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Monaco reaches agreement with France as it prepares to join Council of Europe

Monaco is now well on the way to joining the Council of Europe, says the head of its Strasbourg delegation, Jean-Charles Gardetto. Membership will offer fresh protection to Monegasques and other residents, who will now have access to the European Court of Human Rights.

Interview (22.06.2004)

Question: Your delegation is taking part in a session for the first time as a special guest of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly. Does this mean that your future membership is now assured?

Jean-Charles Gardetto: I think so, because we were granted this special guest status in April after the Assembly vote recommending Monaco's accession. But there is still an intermediate stage because the Council's Joint Committee (representing members of parliament and governments) has to consider our position vis-à-vis France, in other words the renegotiation of the 1930 agreements. According to our information, these negotiations have now ended and a text has been agreed and even initialled by the French and Monegasque authorities. Our Minister of State has informed the Council of Europe of this and we are awaiting a similar move from the French authorities, which will enable us to progress to the final accession process.

Question: What practical points have had to be revised in the treaties with the French authorities?

Jean-Charles Gardetto: The Franco-Monegasque Convention of 1930 restricted a certain number of senior official and government posts in Monaco to French nationals. This provision is clearly incompatible with the Council of Europe's principle of non-discrimination so it has to be repealed. I understand that the problem has been settled and Monaco citizens are now eligible for these positions.

Question: How has France reacted to your application for membership?

Jean-Charles Gardetto: Our French parliamentary colleagues have been very encouraging and have always offered us a warm welcome. The official French government reaction was more ambiguous.

Question: Why has Monaco waited so long before expressing an interest in joining the Council?

Jean-Charles Gardetto: The initiative came from the prince of Monaco, and it is he you should ask. Our parliament was re-elected in 2003 and we are fervent supporters of this accession. We fulfil all the Council of Europe's criteria: Monaco is a democratic state that respects the rule of law, and human rights are not abused in the Principality. Membership also brings with it the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights, which offers both our nationals and our other residents additional and welcome safeguards.

Question: Will accession have an impact on the Monaco parliament's role in the Principality's institutions?

Jean-Charles Gardetto: Our assembly's prerogatives were extended in 2002, particularly regarding treaty ratification and the right to initiate legislation, and the National Council's international role has been strengthened. We are therefore turning our attention increasingly to European horizons. Naturally we are very interested in the experience of other institutions and are anxious to discover what is happening in this Assembly.