12/11/2014 Monitoring
“The ratification of the Istanbul and Lanzarote Conventions on the 10th anniversary of Monaco’s accession to the Council of Europe confirms that the Principality is firmly anchored in the Organisation, devoted to its ideals and a contributor to its activities. It is in this frame of mind that I will be pursuing post-monitoring dialogue with Monaco to identify legal solutions enabling it to honour its outstanding commitments, in keeping with the specific features stemming from its national and geographical characteristics,” said Jordi Xuclà (Spain, ALDE), rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on post-monitoring dialogue with Monaco, after his visit to the Principality on 6 and 7 November 2014.
When joining the Council of Europe in 2004, Monaco pledged, in particular, to pass a law on the organisation and functioning of the National Council, to ratify Protocols Nos 1 and 12 to the European Convention of Human Rights and to ratify the revised European Social Charter.
“Our discussions have been helped by a constructive atmosphere and huge progress made in the last ten years. I welcome the determination shown by HSH Albert II and the readiness of the Monegasque authorities to fully co-operate with the Council of Europe. Together, we can work through the challenges posed by the pending issues to remove any remaining legal obstacles and close this post-accession process. Our Organisation will make all its expertise available to support that process,” said the rapporteur.
Mr Xuclà met with the Head of State HSH Prince Albert II, the President of the National Council and the Minister of State, as well as with the Government Counsellors for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, the Interior, Social Affairs and Health. He also held talks with the Chairman and members of the Monaco delegation to PACE, the representatives of the majority and the opposition in the National Council, the Mayor of Monaco, representatives of the judicial authorities, the Director of the Department of Information and Control of Financial Circuits (SICCFIN) and also the High Commissioner for the protection of rights, freedoms and mediation, a newly-created institution.
The PACE Monitoring Committee will organise a hearing on 14 November 2014 in Paris with the President of the National Council and the Chair of the competent committee to take stock of progress in preparing the law on the organisation and functioning of the National Council.