Prince Albert II addresses Council of Europe Assembly
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Prince Albert II told the Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg on 1 October that Monaco remains committed to the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.
Prince Albert II spoke before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 1 October, using the platform to restate Monaco's commitment to justice, the rule of law and the protection of fundamental freedoms. The address came at a moment when the Strasbourg-based institution, which oversees human rights standards across its 46 member states, faces mounting pressure from geopolitical tensions testing the postwar consensus on multilateral cooperation.
The Sovereign Prince pressed the case for multilateralism as a response to current crises, arguing that cooperation between states remains the most reliable route through periods of instability. He also raised environmental policy directly with the Assembly, calling for continued work within the Council of Europe toward formal recognition of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, an issue he suggested requires sustained effort to build agreement among member states.
For a Principality that has built much of its international standing on environmental diplomacy and support for international legal frameworks, the appearance reinforces Monaco's long-standing positioning within European institutions despite its small size and non-EU status. The Council of Europe address follows a pattern of Prince Albert II using international forums to advance both human rights and environmental agendas that have become hallmarks of his reign.