Monaco’s Embassy in Italy holds its annual consular meeting

Monaco’s Consuls in Italy and other countries where the Ambassador is accredited met at the Embassy on Friday 31 January in Rome for its annual consular working meeting.

This traditional meeting, held at the beginning of the year, is an opportunity for review as well as new drive to organise and coordinate key initiatives planned for 2025 intended to promote and enhance the international visibility of the Principality. 

Among these, visits by H.S.H. Prince Albert II to Italy are always a highlight among initiatives to strengthen ties with this neighbouring country and friend. After his visits to Tuscany, Rome and Sicily last year, the Sovereign will resume his visits to Italian municipalities that are members of the Federation of the Historical Sites of the Grimaldis of Monaco, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. A variety of events are planned to commemorate the anniversary with mayors of these municipalities and the Chair of the Federation, Mr Fulvio Gazzola, Mayor of Dolceacqua, who was welcomed by the Ambassador a few weeks ago at the Embassy for the Federation’s third annual general meeting.

Promoting Monaco as a destination will also be a special focus, with a special initiative organised in 2025 in partnership with Monaco Private Label.

The Principality will pursue its active involvement in promoting the French language in Italy following the renewal in July of a two-year mandate for H.E. Anne Eastwood on the Executive Committee of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors (GAF). This group, which brings together heads of French-speaking diplomatic missions accredited to Italy, the Holy See, and UN agencies based in Rome, leads various initiatives in support of multilingualism and cultural diversity, including the annual francophone film festival in Rome.

H.E. Ms Eastwood recalled that after her visits to Malta and San Marino in early 2024, and the presentation of her credentials in Croatia in October and in Romania in December, she is now accredited as Monaco’s Ambassador to the six countries covered by the Embassy.

With support from the consular network, the Embassy will continue to work to develop ties with these countries and promote Monaco’s economic and cultural influence.

The meeting was followed by a pleasant dinner reception at the Ambassador’s residence, to which were also invited H.E. Mr Philippe Orengo, Monaco’s Ambassador to the Holy See and the manager of Monaco’s programme in the Jubilee celebrations.