Monaco

The very good bilateral relations between Switzerland and Monaco are tending to improve even further, especially in areas of common interest such as the environment, the fight against financial crime, Francophonie and sport.

Key aspects of diplomatic relations

Since 2006, the Swiss ambassador in Paris has also been accredited to the Principality. Contacts between the two States at the international level have mainly taken place within the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the International Organisation of Francophonie (IOF).

The last official visit by Prince Albert II to Switzerland was in May 2007. He also came to Switzerland in 2010 during the Francophonie Summit in Montreux. The head of the FDFA, who was the President of the Swiss Confederation at the time, travelled to the Principality of Monaco in December 2014 for the opening of the 127th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). On that occasion, he met Prince Albert II for official talks.

Treaty database

Economic cooperation

Switzerland’s economic activity in Monaco is mainly in the banking and financial sector. Swiss banks are very well represented in Monaco's financial centre. However Switzerland does not have statistics about the level of bilateral trade and investments with the Principality.

Cooperation in the domain of education

An agreement on trainees and interns makes it possible for young professionals from Monaco to improve their professional qualifications and their linguistic knowledge in Switzerland.

Young professionals, State Secretariat for Migration SEM

Swiss nationals in Monaco

According to the Statistics on the Swiss Abroad, 1,211 Swiss nationals were living in Monaco at the end of 2016.Together with the French and the Italians, Swiss nationals are one of the largest foreign communities in Monaco. Consular relations between the two States are taken care of by the Swiss Consulate General in Marseille.

History of bilateral relations

The Principality of Monaco opened an embassy in Berne in 1959. The first official visit to Switzerland by a prince of the Grimaldi family took place the following year when Rainier III visited Switzerland. The accreditation of the first Swiss ambassador (residing in Paris) was granted by HSH Prince Albert II in June 2006.

Monaco, historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)