Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe: Monaco brings together the Ambassadors of the member States at the Oceanographic Museum

The meeting was opened by Isabelle BERRO-AMADEÏ, Government Counsellor-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in her capacity as Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and subsequently chaired by H.E. Mr Gabriel REVEL, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Monaco to the Council of Europe*. It marked one of the highlights of the Monegasque Presidency.

In her opening address, the Chair of the Committee of Ministers welcomed the resumption of work following the summer recess, recalling the spirit that drives the Organisation: "A unique forum, where forty-six States have chosen dialogue over division, in the service of shared values"**, thus illustrating the Principality’s steadfast commitment to multilateral dialogue and to strengthening the system for the protection of human rights.

As the Council of Europe’s decision-making body, the Committee held, at Monaco’s initiative, a thematic debate on "the environmental crisis through the lens of human rights" aimed at fostering an exchange of views on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

In this context, Dr Céline DUBREUIL-DEGORTES, from the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, presented the current state of scientific knowledge on the various aspects of the environmental crisis. Ms Maša KOVIČ-DINE, Professor of Law at the University of Ljubljana, then addressed the legal options available to member States. Finally, Mr Gianluca ESPOSITO, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law at the Council of Europe, outlined the political perspectives, particularly with regard to the possible scope of a legally binding instrument.

Beyond the institutional proceedings, participants were received by T.S.H. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene at the Prince’s Palace.

The programme also provided an opportunity to showcase the Principality’s heritage to around one hundred participants who had travelled from Strasbourg. They were welcomed by Mr Georges MARSAN, Mayor of Monaco, at the Exotic Garden and had the opportunity to discover the aquariums of the Oceanographic Museum before attending a closing dinner at the Hôtel Hermitage, in the presence of H.E. Mr Christophe MIRMAND, Minister of State.

* Founded in 1949, the Council of Europe is the leading organisation for the protection of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. It currently comprises 46 member States and represents more than 700 million citizens.

** Extract from the opening address delivered by Ms Isabelle BERRO-AMADEÏ, Government Counsellor-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, at the 1,567^th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies under the Monegasque Presidency, on 2 September 2026, available on this website.