Economic, Social and Environmental Council

Conseil Economique et Social

Secretary-General : Ms Catherine CATANESE
Contact details

Duties

The main duties of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council are to express opinions on social, financial, commercial, and industrial issues, as well as those relating to tourism, that have an overall impact on the country's economy.

The Council is thus consulted by the Government about Bills or draft Sovereign Ordinances falling into one of the above categories, but may also express its wishes concerning related issues.

Organisation and operation

The Council meets every three months when called by its Chairman, but may also deliberate at any time if called upon by the Government.

The Members of the Government may attend meetings and can also be assisted by technical experts.

It has thirty-six members, appointed for three years by Sovereign Ordinance:

A governmental group: 12 members presented by the Government on the basis of their expertise
An employee group: 12 members, including eight nominated by the Monaco Union of Trade Unions and four by employee unions not affiliated to this organisation
An employers’ group: 12 members, including eight nominated by the Federation of Monegasque Businesses and four by employers’ associations not affiliated to this organisation or by professional bodies representing employers

The Chairman is designated by the Prince from among the members, as are the two Vice-Chairmen:

Chairman
Ms Caroline ROUGAIGNON-VERNIN

Vice-Chairmen
Mr Michel GRAMAGLIA
Ms Christine GIOLITTI

Background

The Economic, Social and Environmental Council is a consultative assembly that was substituted, on a temporary basis, in 1945, for the former "Chambre consultative du Commerce, de l’industrie et des Intérêts fonciers et professionnels étrangers".

The present name and permanent status date from 1995.

In 2005, the Council joined the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS) and since 2007 has also been a member of the "Union des Conseils économiques et sociaux et Institutions similaires de la Francophonie (UCESIF)", enabling it to convey major international concerns and also to participate in disseminating the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

In November 2010, it participated in the European summit in Rome creating the Assembly of CESIS (Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions) within the Union for the Mediterranean, and as part of that body leads the Standing Working Group on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society.