Alpine Convention: Protocol of accession of the Principality of Monaco

OBJECTIVE: to approve the protocol of accession of the Principality of Monaco to the Convention on the Protection of the Alps to which Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia, Liechtenstein and the European Community are already signatories. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Decision 98/118/EC concerning the conclusion of the Protocol of Accession of the Principality of Monaco to the Convention on the Protection of the Alps. SUBSTANCE: the decision authorizes the Community to approve the Protocol of Accession of the Principality of Monaco to the Convention on the Protection of the Alps (Alpine Convention) signed by the parties on 20 December 1994. This Convention is a framework convention the aim of which is to safeguard and protect the alpine ecosystem with a view to ensuring the sustainable development of all alpine regions. The extension of the Alpine Convention to Monaco makes more effective protection of the Alps throughout the entire Alpine region possible (a new map covering all the regions affected by the Convention - including Monaco - is annexed to the Protocol and becomes the only valid map). ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision enters into force on 16 December 1997, the protocol entering into force when all the necessary procedures and conditions have been fulfilled (one of the conditions being the entry into force of the Alpine Convention itself). �