27-03-2009-
A delegation, led by Mr Philippe Narmino, Director of the Judicial Services and President of the Principality’s Council of State, recently travelled to Paris on the invitation of the French institution of the same name.
The Monegasque delegation also included Mr Jean-François Landwerlin, vice-president of the Council of State, as well as Messrs Francis Casorla, Philippe Orengo and Jean-Marie Rainaud, counsellors of State The interested parties are respectively honorary advocate-general at the Court of Cassation (Mr Casorla), vice-president of the Administrative Court of Nice (Mr Orengo), associate professor of public law and honorary dean of the Faculty of Law in Nice (Mr Rainaud).. Mr Laurent Anselmi, Delegate for legal affairs for the Government of Monaco also took part.
In France, the Council of State, set up in 1799, fulfils a double mission; it acts both as an advisory body to the government for the drafting of government bills and important statutory texts, and is the Supreme Court for administrative justice. Therefore, it comprises various administrative sections in addition to a litigation section. The Council of State is an extremely important institution in the running of the State and, as such, represents a true nursery for top administration officials It should be noted that during his career in France, H.E. M Jean-Paul Proust was also a member of the Council of State.. Many French ministers, secretaries of State and members of Parliament were part of the Council of State at some point or other in their career.
In Monaco, the Council of State is an institution founded by the Constitution whose mission is exclusively advisory. It is made up of experienced jurists from highly diverse backgrounds. Although it does not systematically examine all the government bills, contrary to its French counterpart, the Prince nevertheless refers to the Council of State for its opinion concerning all important texts.
The Monegasque delegation was welcomed by Mr Jean-Marc Sauvé, vice-president of the Council of State The vice-president of the Council of State ensures the effective presidency should the official holder of office be the prime minister. with whom the delegates held long discussions, as well as with the president of sections and other eminent heads Including Messrs Terry Olson, delegate for international relations, François Stasse, vice-president of the social section, Jean-Luc Sauron, maître des requêtes..The delegation also took part in sessions of the advisory sections, the litigation sections and the plenary meeting.
As assessment was made of all common issues during the exchange, thereby enabling the delegation to gain valuable insight from the French experience.
The delegation was also received in the Hotel Matignon by Mr Jacques-Henri Stahl, Assistant Secretary General of the Government. An essential component for governmental action, the Secretariat General centralises the legal activity of the French government, in particular thanks to its legislation service and law quality. As such, it formalises texts, coordinating the necessary arbitration if applicable, then ensures that they are submitted to and followed up by the Council of State. The audience of the highest interest allowed the delegation to have a comprehensive view of the way in which the system operates.
The visit concluded with a luncheon hosted by Mr Jean-Marc Sauvé, to which His Excellency Mr Jean Pastorelli, Ambassador of the Principality to France and Mr Michel Bernard, former Section President of the Council of State, ex-member of the Supreme Court of Monaco, were also invited.
Co-operation between the two institutions now being active, the next step will be to invite a delegation from the French Council of State to visit the Principality.
|