On June 25 and 26, 2026, the Principality of Monaco hosted the major celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the RAMOGE Agreement, bringing together institutional representatives, judicial authorities, scientific experts and operational stakeholders committed to protecting the Mediterranean. Two days rich in exchanges and shared moments, illustrating fifty years of exemplary cooperation between France, Monaco and Italy.
A first day focused on operational cooperation
Thursday, June 25 was devoted to cooperation between the various stakeholders working to protect the marine environment, particularly with regard to marine pollution.
At the Monaco Palace of Justice, prosecutors from the RAMOGE zone met to discuss the challenges of judicial cooperation in the event of a marine pollution incident. These discussions were based on the scenario of the RAMOGEPOL 2026 anti-pollution exercise, which began on June 22 in Savona with operational exchanges and was set to continue at sea off Monaco the following day.
In the late afternoon, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, accompanied by French, Monegasque and Italian authorities, visited two anti-pollution vessels mobilized as part of the RAMOGEPOL exercise, moored at Port Hercule: the Abeille Méditerranée and the Diciotti. This visit highlighted the operational resources deployed by the three countries to address the risks of maritime pollution under the RAMOGEPOL plan.
A second day full of demonstrations and knowledge-sharing
On Friday, June 26, the celebrations continued with several highlights organized simultaneously in Monaco.
At the Ministry of State, T.S.H. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène of Monaco, alongside senior authorities from the three signatory States of the Agreement, inaugurated the exhibition dedicated to the RAMOGE Agreement’s 50th anniversary. The exhibition, produced in collaboration with the National Archives of Monaco, offered a journey through the history of this cooperation via archival footage, historical illustrations and photographs, reference works, testimonials, as well as an immersive virtual reality experience dedicated to the underwater canyons of the RAMOGE zone. On this occasion, the Sovereign Prince and the Princess also postmarked a commemorative stamp specially issued for the anniversary. The exhibition is open to the public until October 30, 2026.
Raising awareness among younger generations also played an important role in the program. French and Italian students took part in the celebrations by visiting the anti-pollution vessels at Port Hercule, before attending a presentation on the actions carried out by the RAMOGE Agreement at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, and then touring this iconic institution dedicated to the marine world.
At the same time, French, Monegasque and Italian operational resources took part in the RAMOGEPOL 2026 exercise at sea. Coordinated by Italy, this full-scale exercise mobilized numerous resources and experts and simulated several key phases of the fight against marine pollution: sampling for the analysis and identification of pollutants and the polluter, aerial surveillance using helicopters and drones, deployment of floating booms, and pollution slick recovery operations. H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, along with authorities from the three States, attended this demonstration, as did observers from various countries across the Mediterranean region.
Finally, the celebrations concluded at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco with a conference dedicated to fifty years of commitment to protecting the Mediterranean. Through several panel discussions, French, Italian and Monegasque experts exchanged views on the Agreement’s key themes, including the fight against marine pollution, the preservation of coastal biodiversity, and deep-sea exploration campaigns. This session highlighted the diversity of concrete actions carried out by the RAMOGE Agreement since its creation in 1976, while underscoring the importance of lasting international cooperation in the face of current and future environmental challenges.
The day ended with a cocktail dinner, offering participants a convivial moment of exchange and the opportunity to discover the immersive virtual reality experience dedicated to the underwater canyons of the RAMOGE zone.
However, this anniversary year does not end with these celebrations. A new exploration campaign will be carried out by the end of July 2026, while a conference dedicated to posidonia (seagrass) will be held in the fall. In addition, the traveling exhibition marking the 50th anniversary, currently on display in Genoa, will continue its tour in France. Finally, the 2026 photo contest “RAMOGE – Man and the Sea” will conclude with an awards ceremony, bringing this exceptional year of celebration and cooperation to a close.
A unique model of cooperation
Through these two days of celebration, the RAMOGE Agreement reaffirmed the relevance and strength of a unique trilateral cooperation, which, half a century later, remains the only sub-regional agreement combining biodiversity preservation and the fight against marine pollution. An example and an inspiration for contributing sustainably to the protection of the Mediterranean for present and future generations.
© Photos Communications Department – Stéphane Danna – Manuel Vitali / Mathis Kalandyk SPARKLIC
Inauguration of the commemorative exhibition at the Ministry of State of Monaco, June 26, 2026. From left to right: H.E. Mr. Jean d’Haussonville, Ambassador of France to Monaco, Vice-Admiral Xavier Ducept, Secretary General of the Sea (France), H.E. Mr. Christophe Mirmand, Minister of State of Monaco, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, H.S.H. Princess Charlène of Monaco, Senator Claudio Barbaro, Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, H.E. Ms. Manuela Ruosi, Ambassador of Italy to Monaco, Rear Admiral Francesco Tomas, Chairman of the RAMOGE Commission, Mr. Florent Champion, Executive Secretary of the RAMOGE Agreement, Ms. Julie Rigaud-Maréchal, Head of the French Delegation to the RAMOGE Commission. © Communications Department – Stéphane Danna
