Draft law No. 275 on professional journalists

Draft law no. 275 on professional journalists was tabled in a public session on 26 November 2025 and referred to the Legislation Committee.

Presentation

The explanatory memorandum to draft law no. 275 points out that freedom of public expression is a fundamental freedom guaranteed by the Constitution and specified by Law no. 1.299 of 15 July 2005, as amended, but that "there is no legal mechanism for officially identifying or recognising journalism professionals working in the Principality." There is no Monegasque press card.

The difficulties encountered as a result of this legal vacuum are identified as follows: "legal uncertainty for professional journalists, media companies and institutions, particularly with regard to the recognition of journalists' professional status, applicable ethical rules and the protection of sources", "in terms of access to certain events organised by public and private institutions, international visibility and protection of the professional status of local journalists".

SUMMARY

Draft law no. 275 does not seek to create a regulated profession subject to compulsory registration or prior authorisation.

It aims to "strengthen the visibility of the Monegasque press internationally", "encourage the structuring of the Monegasque media landscape, (...) initiate a reflection aimed at providing the Principality with a flexible and balanced framework, comparable to the standards of neighbouring states and member countries of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)".

More specifically, draft law No. 275 aims to "recognise, through the issuance of a Monegasque press card, the professional status of journalists on the basis of objective criteria, under the supervision of an independent body: the Monegasque Press Card Commission":

• Legal definition of professional journalist and press enterprise (Art. 1);
• Creation of a Monegasque Press Card Commission responsible for issuing Monegasque press cards and ensuring that journalists holding such cards comply with the ethical principles of the profession (Arts. 2 to 6);
• Creation of a Monegasque press card valid for one year, renewable; a temporary Monegasque press card may be issued to journalists who hold a foreign press card to allow them access to official events organised by public authorities (Articles 7 to 11);
• Provisions relating to labour law (employment contracts, dismissal of professional journalists) (Articles 12 and 13);
• Protection of the confidentiality of sources, in line with European standards (Art. 14);
• Ethical duties of journalists, inspired by the Munich Charter of Ethics (or Declaration of the Duties and Rights of Journalists), signed on 24 November 1971 and adopted by the European Federation of Journalists (Art. 15);
• Criminal penalties for fraud involving the Monegasque press card (Art. 16).
• Tasks of the Provisional Commission until the Monegasque Press Card Commission is established (Art. 17).

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