Membership history
The Council of Europe, the Principality’s "natural family"
A will for recognition and integration in international bodies
After the First World War, relations with France, to which Monaco had been closely tied since the 17th century, were strengthened by the Franco-Monegasque treaty of July 17, 1918, known as the "protective friendship treaty ". The Government of the French Republic ensures "the Principality of Monaco its independence and sovereignty, and guarantees the integrity of its territory as if it were part of France. For its part, the Government of His Serene Highness the Prince of Monaco commits to exercise its rights of sovereignty in perfect accordance with the political, military, naval and economic interests of France ".
In addition, France was to facilitate the Principality’s access to international conferences and institutions, which were booming at the time, especially since the Principality’s long-standing attachment to the values of peace had led, in 1903, to the creation of an International Peace Institute. However, with its small territory and small population, Monaco was unable to obtain its membership to the League of Nations (LN), the forerunner of the United Nations (UN).
After the Second World War, the Principality’s international horizons finally widened. The country joined the International Telecommunication Union (1947), the World Health Organization (1948) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (1949), all three UN specialised agencies.
In August 1949, from the first year of the reign of Rainier III (1923-2005), the Principality took part in the XVIIth International Red Cross Conference in Geneva, where the Geneva Conventions were ratified.
In 1957, it was admitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Finally, in May 1993, it became the 183rd member state of the UN, after obtaining its observer status in 1956.
