Quality of life in the Alps is the focus of discussions at the 18th Ministerial Conference of the Alpine Convention

The Monegasque delegation: in the centre, H.E. Ms Anne Eastwood, Monaco's Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia; on her right, Ms Astrid Claudel, Head of Section at the Department of the Environment; on her left, Mr Wilfrid Deri, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. ©DR

A delegation led by H.E. Ms Anne Eastwood, Monaco's Ambassador to Slovenia, attended the Ministerial Conference of the Alpine Convention, which brought together eight countries of the Alpine Arc and the European Commission. The event was held on 22 January 2025 in Brdo (Slovenia) and marked the end of the programme under the Slovenian Presidency, which will be succeeded by Italy in 2025-2026.

The presidency made 'quality of life' a top priority and the subject of the 10th Report on the State of the Alps. This report, based on a unique methodological approach, provides new insights into current issues, identifies the main challenges affecting the quality of life in the Alps and proposes recommendations to political decision-makers.

Climate change education was also on the Alpine Conference agenda, which adopted a series of recommendations highlighting the need for flexible regulatory frameworks, active engagement and hands-on learning experiences. The Monegasque delegation took the floor on several occasions, notably to highlight the Department of Education, Youth and Sport's contribution to the expert work being carried out in this area, designed to emphasise the importance of extracurricular activities within this field.

The Alpine ministers concluded by stressing the importance of strengthening the resilience of the Alps in the face of climate change, particularly by facilitating environmentally friendly lifestyles and reinforcing concerted efforts in the management of natural hazards, which are significant in this mountain region.

An official dinner was held alongside the conference for the heads of delegation, chaired by the Slovenian Minister for Natural Resources and Spatial Planning. This provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of developing partnerships within the private sector to implement the recommendations and delve further into issues relating to tourism, energy and the management of water resources to ensure sustainable development throughout the region.

About the Alpine Convention

The Alpine Convention was formed over 30 years ago by eight countries - Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia and Switzerland, and the European Union. This convention underscores the importance of cross-border and cross-sector cooperation for the protection and sustainable development of the Alps. 

©DR