18/03/2011 President
Strasbourg, 18.03.2011 – Monaco has been a “good partner” of the Council of Europe and has demonstrated its commitment to the Organisation’s standards as well as the political will to carry out further reforms, the President of the Council’s Parliamentary Assembly Mevlüt Cavuşoğlu has said towards the end of a three-day official visit to the Principality (17-19 March).
Speaking today following an audience with His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, the President said Monaco had made “substantial progress” in a number of areas such as the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and corruption, as well as exchanging information on tax matters. The reform of the judiciary and advances in the revision of the Criminal Code were also important achievements.
However some issues still remain unresolved, the President pointed out, including further reform of Monaco’s institutions, and additional steps to tackle European integration. He encouraged further progress in ensuring that the National Council, the Principality’s elected parliament, was able to fulfil its constitutional functions of supervising government action, initiating legislation and debating the executive’s policies and budget.
The Monegasque authorities could also consider revising the legal status of political parties, which were “currently functioning as NGOs”, as well as seeking to bridge the gap between Monegasque and non-Monegasque citizens in terms of access to social services.
The President also expressed his personal condolences to Prince Albert following the death yesterday of the Prince’s aunt, Princess Antoinette.
Earlier in the visit Mr Cavuşoğlu met the President of Monaco’s National Council Jean-Francois Robillon and representatives of political groups in the Council. Tomorrow he meets the Principality’s Minister of State Michel Roger.