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News - Cooperation mission - Comores
Supporting reform in the Comoros
From 8 to 12 September, Bertrand Macé, President of the Chamber of Notaries of Réunion-Mayotte, and Haroun Patel, notary in Saint-Denis, delegates of the CSN for the Indian Ocean, travelled to the Comoros as part of cooperation with the Comorian notariat.
The packed programme included leading a training session on notarial ethics, supporting the legislative reform currently under review concerning the profession, preparing the organisation of the Conference of Notariats of the Indian Ocean, scheduled for 2026, and developing an academic partnership between the University of Réunion and the Law Faculty of the Union of the Comoros through the creation of a Master’s degree in Private Law specialising in Notarial Studies. During the visit, the French notaries met the President of the Republic of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, who reaffirmed his support for this cooperation – further strong evidence of both countries’ commitment to moving forward together.
News - Study visit - Paris
Sharing experience with the Lebanese Ministry of Justice
Several months ago, Lebanon requested technical assistance from the European Union to establish an action plan supporting compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards on the supervision of anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing measures. This action plan particularly included training on sectoral risk assessment to strengthen the capacity of the notarial supervisory authorities.
News - Summer University - Paris
International success for the Summer University of Continental Law
The Summer University of Continental Law once again drew a full house for its 16th edition. Organised from 7 to 25 July by the Foundation for Continental Law at the University of Paris-Panthéon-Assas, over three weeks it brought together more than 80 young legal professionals and students from 34 countries around the world. Its objective was to promote continental law and foster a desire to work with France.
Once again this year, learners, divided into three streams (Francophone, Anglophone and Hispanophone), attended a compulsory introductory course on continental legal culture. Students also had the opportunity to take three optional lessons on cross-cutting subjects (European and international contract law, international dispute resolution, digital law…), culminating in a training certificate. But the Summer University went beyond these classes: meetings were organised with leading French legal professionals, along with visits to emblematic institutions (Constitutional Council, Council of State, Economic Activities Court, National Assembly, Senate…). A full legal immersion that young jurists greatly appreciated.
News - General Assembly - Paris
The APF takes action for land security
The 50th plenary session of the APF (Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie), held in Paris on 12 and 13 July 2025, brought together representatives of parliaments and interparliamentary organisations from across the world that share the French language. They were able to exchange views during debates hosted at the Senate and the National Assembly and to adopt several resolutions on many common topics.
The APF has long been particularly interested in the issue of land tenure security. Land title is indeed a cornerstone of economic development and a guarantee of social peace, highly valued by its members. Its Economic, Social and Environmental Commission therefore sought the expertise of a representative from the Association of Francophone Notaries (ANF), Laurent Fritsch, a notary in Marseille, who proposed drafting a legislative framework on land matters to assist parliamentarians wishing to place land tenure security on their institutional agenda.
News - Cooperation - Poland
A new chapter in Franco-Polish notarial cooperation
On 17 September 2025, in Paris, more than 20 years after the signing of their first agreement, the Presidents of the Superior Council of Notaries and of the National Council of the Polish Notariat renewed their cooperation for a period of three years. Covering scientific cooperation, political dialogue, information meetings for expatriates and more, this agreement includes numerous initiatives promoting exchange and the sharing of good practices.
LIve - with Bruno Lasserre, Président of the foundation for Continental Law
"Ensuring that continental law thrives means opening it up to dialogue and the circulation of ideas”
Elected President of the Foundation for Continental Law last summer, Bruno Lasserre – former Vice-President of the Council of State and President of the French Competition Authority – shares his vision for the years ahead. From adapting to major contemporary transformations, to promotion of continental legal culture and cooperation with notaries, he outlines the priorities for his term of office.
How do you envisage your new term as President of the Foundation for Continental Law?
First and foremost, my priority will be to work with all our members to jointly develop a strategic action plan for the next four to five years.
We are living in a time of profound upheaval – geopolitical, technological, societal and environmental.
It is therefore essential that the Foundation fully integrates these transformations into its strategic orientations. We would also like our Foundation to take a more proactive role in the drafting of legal instruments and to participate actively in major European and multilateral debates. Several major projects lie ahead, including the rollout of a European business code, research into the relationship between artificial intelligence and continental law, as well as companies’ ecological transition.
"Continental law is not merely a legal system: it is a culture, a way of thinking about the law.”
We have also launched the Global Observatory on Legal Indicators, which we will present to the World Bank next November. Finally, on 2 December 2025, we are organising a major international symposium dedicated to Ownership in the Era of Sustainable Development.
What is the significance of continental law today?
Continental law is not merely a legal system: it is a culture, a way of thinking about the law, and a practice shared by legal professionals across the world. Its strength lies in providing a clear, written and accessible framework that consolidates existing rules and guarantees genuine legal certainty – for citizens as well as for economic stakeholders.
It is also a system with a preventive and educational role, protecting the most vulnerable and helping to restore balance in relations of power. In an increasingly globalised legal environment, the international influence of continental law remains very strong. For example, for 15 years our Summer University of Continental Law has attracted young jurists from all over the world who want to build bridges between legal cultures. Ensuring that continental law thrives means opening it up to dialogue, comparison and the circulation of ideas.
How do you see the role of the Notaries of France within the Foundation?
The notaries of France are the historical co-founders of the Foundation and continue today to contribute to its governance, its funding and, above all, its collective dynamism.
The Foundation draws upon their international expertise and their influence within the global notarial community. They embody the values we champion – trust, legal certainty and cooperation. Their commitment enables us to strengthen our advocacy abroad and to expand the reach of our Foundation on an international scale.
Video report - France: 121st Congress of the notaries of France
Notarial creativity in the service of the family
Each year, notaries meet up at the Congress of the Notaries of France – a key event for collective reflection on the future of the profession, both in France and around the world.
Notaries from France and around the world gathered in Montpellier to spend three days discussing a theme at the heart of social changes – the family in all its new forms. The event, attended by several thousand participants, confirmed the French notariat’s ability to combine legal reflection, social innovation and international cooperation.
A strong international dimension
True to its commitment to openness, the Congress welcomed 34 foreign delegations, including 15 from Africa. “Being present at the Congress of the Notaries of France means taking part in the world’s foremost notarial gathering,” says Olagnika Salam, President of the African Affairs Commission of the International Union of Notaries (UINL). “It is also here that lasting partnerships are forged, where France shares its experience with other countries – particularly on training, digitalisation and dejudicialisation.”
Cooperation, training and innovation
For Régine Dooh-Collins, President of the Chamber of Notaries of Cameroon, international cooperation begins with continuing professional development:
“We work closely with the notaries of France to benefit from their expertise, particularly regarding dejudicialisation and the fight against money laundering. The goal is to strengthen the profession, especially in Africa, and to ensure that notaries are fully aware of their responsibilities.” She adds that collaboration now extends to issues of digitalisation and artificial intelligence, stressing that “the French experience serves as a benchmark for adapting innovative solutions locally.” In the same spirit, Adil El Bitar, President of the Chamber of Notaries of Morocco, sees this cooperation as a concrete source of inspiration: “We plan to implement a digital strategy to fully digitise the profession. This ambition, initiated in France in 1999, is a great source of inspiration for us.”
“There are always foreign delegations at the Congress of the Notaries of France,” adds Pierre Jean Meyssan, First Vice-President of the Conseil supérieur du notariat. “It is a major gathering for the global notariat – a chance to discuss legal techniques, legal topics and sociological issues and to strengthen cooperation agreements that guide our collective action.”
A forum for dialogue and meetings
Held at the Sud de France Arena, the Congress exhibition attracted over 150 exhibitors and professional partners. This fantastic professional forum offered participants an opportunity to discover the latest technological innovations, exchange best practices and forge new international collaborations.
The Congress of French Notaries in summary
Discover the Congress of French Notaries website and get unlimited access to all Congress content.
The Event - Marocco
Mediterranean legal professionals gather in Rabat
Organised by the Foundation for Continental Law with the support of the French Embassy in Morocco, the 11th edition of the Convention of Mediterranean Legal Professionals was held on 8 July in Rabat. The agenda for these discussions between legal professionals from across the Mediterranean region included the role of contracts in legal relations, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), corporate social responsibility and artificial intelligence.
Since its launch in 2008, this has become a popular event among legal professionals. Every two years, in a different host country, the Convention of Mediterranean Legal Professionals brings together notaries, lawyers, court officers and administrators, in-house counsel, academics and magistrates from countries bordering the Mediterranean. Its purpose is to discuss matters of common interest, compare their legal traditions and challenges, and foster cooperation.
“The idea is truly to engage in dialogue with our Mediterranean neighbours and to share good practices in order to create cohesion among countries and to enrich one another,” explains Anne-Charlotte Gros, Director General of the Foundation for Continental Law. For this 11th edition, she worked closely with the Moroccan Ministry of Justice, which aims to establish Morocco as a real legal hub and strengthen its legal partnerships.
Rabat hosted the 11th Convention of Mediterranean Jurists, a landmark gathering for discussion and exchange on the future of law across the Mediterranean region.
Strong involvement from the Notaries of France
The Superior Council of Notaries also played an important role at this year’s event. It was responsible for preparing the conference’s academic content and its President, Bertrand Savouré, introduced the four round tables, alongside Abdellatif Ouahbi, Moroccan Minister of Justice, and Valérie Delnaud, Director for Civil Affairs and the Seal at the French Ministry of Justice.
Rethinking access to justice
The wide range of topics addressed all addressed one overarching question with multiple implications – what are the various ways justice can be accessed in the 21st century? This gave legal professionals an opportunity to share their expertise on common areas of concern such as the increasing role of contracts in structuring legal relationships, the impact of developments in ADR and artificial intelligence on legal practice, and the legal response to new corporate obligations, particularly in the areas of anti-corruption and anti-money laundering.
Some figures
Expertise - China
Franco-Chinese cooperation intensifies ahead of the 2026 Congress
Franco-Chinese notarial cooperation shows no signs of slowing. Taking advantage of the visit to China by Lionel Galliez, President of the International Union of Notaries (UINL), a delegation from the Superior Council of Notaries travelled to Beijing and Shanghai at the end of June. They outlined the many forthcoming legal exchanges between the two countries, including the Franco-Chinese Notarial Congress, to be held in March 2026.
Meetings with representatives of the Chinese notariat, the French Ambassador, the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) and the Chinese Minister of Justice formed part of an intense programme for the four CSN representatives – Pierre-Jean Meyssan, First Vice-President, Christel Grillet, Secretary, Angélique Chen, Delegate for China, and Willy Giacchino, French Director of the Sino-French Centre for Legal and Notarial Training and Exchange in Shanghai – from 23 to 26 June, in preparation for the upcoming initiatives between the two countries.
The March 2026 Congress
The four representatives met with the new President of the China Notary Association (CNA), Yuansheng Zhou, and confirmed with him the plan for the Franco-Chinese Notarial Congress to be held in Shanghai in March 2026 on the theme of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) – a first for both countries. This congress, which is expected to be opened by China’s Minister of Justice, He Rong, will mark the 25th anniversary of the Sino-French Centre, which has successfully trained several thousand Chinese notaries and jurists since its creation.
Comparative law symposia
The French delegation also met with the French Ambassador to China, Bertrand Lortholary. A proposal was made to organise comparative law symposia in Beijing in October, on the law of evidence and legal certainty – an initiative warmly welcomed by the Ambassador, to which the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) also agreed to contribute by hosting one of the round tables at its site.
Visit to the CSN on 28 August 2025
On 28 August 2025, the same representatives of the Chinese notariat were welcomed at the CSN by President Bertrand Savouré, several members of the Board, the Director General and the notarial delegates for China. Valuable discussions took place on the situation of notariats in France and China and the congress’s scientific programme was presented by Olivier Vix, notary in Rouffach, who will serve as the General Rapporteur for the French side of the event.
Continued engagement
These numerous meetings and projects illustrate the high level of cooperation taking place each year between the notariats of France and China. Following two years of joint work between the Superior Council of Notaries, the Institute of Comparative Law of Paris-Panthéon-Assas, the Henri Capitant Association, the CNA and several Chinese universities, this year once again saw the publication of a French translation and commentary on the Chinese Civil Code, which entered into force on 1 January 2021. Ties also remain strong in the field of notarial training, as evidenced by the recent opening of a French-speaking law section at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the annual posting to China of the top French graduates from the Master’s in Notarial Law (Master 2 Droit Notarial).
Key Facts
Diary
- 3 to 5 November 2025: Law, Justice & Development Week on the theme “Innovative legal solutions to development challenges”, World Bank, in Washington, United States
- 24 to 28 November 2025: Franco-Vietnamese Law Week on Innovation and Artificial Intelligence, French Embassy in Hanoï, Vietnam
- 2 December 2025: Colloquium of the Foundation for Continental Law on Sustainable Urban Planning, Superior Council of Notaries in Paris, France
- 9 December 2025: Conference for the 10th Anniversary of the European Regulation on International Successions, Council of the Notariats of the European Union, in Brussels, Belgium & online