On the back of news that Monaco will not enter into the EU on a special Association Agreement, Monaco’s Conseil National has taken the step of publishing two legal and socio-economic studies that had been commissioned for the process, detailing exactly what impact the partnership would have meant for the residents and citizens of the Principality.  

After years of negotiations, it was announced in September 2023 that Monaco and the European Union would be suspending talks regarding an Association Agreement between the Principality and the bloc. 

At the time, the Prince’s Government released a statement pointing to the “impossibility of reconciling the demands of the European Union with the red lines established by H.S.H. the Prince at the opening of these discussions, which aim to ensure that the current living, working and housing conditions of nationals and residents in the Principality are maintained”. 

See more: Monaco and EU suspend negotiations for an Association Agreement

A failure to negotiate 

Those discussions, and ultimately the decision to suspend negotiations, were the culmination of years of back-and-forth.

Monaco’s stance was largely guided by two comprehensive reports commissioned specifically by the government: a legal study carried out by Cabinet Gide, and a socio-economic study produced by Strategy&.  

On Tuesday 5th December, the Conseil National published both in-depth reports in full.

“Loss of legal sovereignty” 

Parts of the socio-economic study had already been shared “for the sake of transparency” in July. The study notably focused on the “solidity of the [current] Monegasque economic model and the numerous uncertainties that an Association Agreement with the European Union would pose for the economy and employment, in particular that of Monegasques, and for the State”. 

The gravity of its findings has been now supported by those of the legal report, which admitted that establishing an Association Agreement with the EU would require Monaco to modify its constitution and its sacrosanct ‘pacte social monégasque’ that enshrines the legal rights of its citizens.  

Benoît Le Bret, the author of the legal report, also acknowledges that such an agreement would result in “at least partial loss of legal sovereignty” for Monaco.  

Régis Bergonzi, who headed the monitoring commission regarding the negotiations, says that the two reports “highlight the risks of social disruption, with the end of national priority for Monegasques, and the risks that economic players in the Monaco market would have incurred” if the agreement had gone ahead.  

There is no signal that negotiations will resume any time soon, if ever, but President of the Conseil National Brigitte Boccone-Pagès has indicated that, for better or worse, the impact studies will “serve as a basis for any reflection concerning possible sectoral agreements with our European partners”.  

Red lines 

In reading the reports, the crux of the matter appears to be the issue of finding common ground between the EU’s stance on non-discrimination based on nationality. This, admits the National Council, is “nevertheless the very foundation of the Monegasque social pact”. 

“This is, in fact, based on national priority in access to housing, employment and certain professions, supplemented by a series of specific advantages for French nationals and rights holders, woven over the years,” reads a statement from the Conseil National. “For [the EU’s] part, the current regulations specific to Monegasque-regulated professions cannot survive an Association Agreement. The same goes for certain administrative positions. Indeed, imposing freedom of movement, without a priority rule, would allow any European citizen to apply for a public position, which is not a feasible option in Monaco.” 

“A privileged partner of the Principality” 

Monaco’s position with regards to its relationship with the EU will continue much as it did before the negotiations were curtailed.  

“The EU is and will remain a privileged partner of the Principality,” says the government. “The EU and Monaco share many common values and the Principality will continue to support the EU’s action on the international scene, particularly in terms of sanctions. Monaco therefore wishes to continue the dialogue and reflect, with the European Union, on ways to strengthen this relationship.” 

Click here to access the socio-economic report and click here to access the legal study.

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Photo of the Throne Room in the Prince’s Palace by Monaco Life

Kart Indoor Monaco has been forced to close its doors after 10 years to make way for electric charging stations for the Principality’s fleet of municipal buses.  

Kart Indoor Monaco, the popular winter attraction that had taken up a whole level of the Pêcheurs carpark for nearly a decade, is no more.  

Over the years, this beloved driving course has enticed F1 stars including Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Mika Häkkinen, Nico Rosberg and David Coulthard, not to mention slews of motoring enthusiasts young and old just looking for a fun day out behind the wheel.  

E-CHARING STATIONS REPLACING TRACK 

The news was announced on 27th November by manager Clive Piccione via social media, who said, “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the definitive closure of Kart Indoor Monaco. After more than 10 years of activity, we are obliged to leave this place… The parking service, having a need for additional space as the Principality makes its energy transition, has decided to equip the carpark with charging stations for its new electric buses. We must therefore leave room for this work and for what follows.” 

Whilst the closure here is definitive, the Kart Indoor Monaco team has hinted that they might have something else up their sleeves, optimistically declaring, “The story doesn’t end there, obviously we have other plans. A page turns, but another chapter will open.”  

In a letter sent to the operators of the facility back in July of this year, the government cited a lack of other suitable spots as the reason for not renewing the course’s permits. 

Piccione had put off making the announcement that the track would be closing for several months in the hopes that a solution could be found or, barring that, that Kart Indoor Monaco would have been allowed one last season to bid a proper goodbye to their loyal clientele.  

The closure has put the karting business in a bit of a pickle financially as “substantial investment” had been made for a renewed fleet, batteries and fast charging stations only recently, and four employees have had to be let go.   

GOVERNMENT’S TAKE 

A statement from the Department of Equipment, Environment and Urban Planning that was published recently in the Monaco Matin indicated that the decision to close the track was based on the government’s overall commitments towards reducing CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 and to be carbon neutral by 2050.  

“This new technology requires buses to be recharged at night at depots located in strategic areas of the Principality, namely in Fontvieille, in the future Salines carpark and at the Pêcheurs carpark, which makes it possible to optimise journeys to and from terminals,” reads the statement.  

The Department also highlighted how it was necessary “to keep the ground floor of the Pêcheurs carpark free for tourist coaches, of which we have noted a strong increase [in numbers] compared to 2022.”  

The government has said that it isn’t insensitive to the plight of Karting Indoor Monaco, nor does it want to lose this activity so adored by locals, and has said that there are hopes the track and facility can continue at another location in the future.  

“We are well aware that this activity was popular with young people and families, and searches for alternative sites will continue for this purpose.” 

For now, though, there will not be any karting this winter in the Principality. For a place known worldwide for its Grand Prix and Formula 1 legacy, that is a sad thing indeed.  

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Photo source: Kart Indoor Monaco, Facebook

From December 2023, all victims of domestic abuse in France are eligible to receive government assistance to help get them out of imminent danger and cover pressing expenses.  

The constant fear and uncertainty of being in an abusive relationship often traps the victim in a situation that is not safe or healthy for that person, not to mention for any dependents living in the home.  

Now the French government has decided to offer a helping hand to those who feel stuck or unable to leave due to financial circumstances. As of 1st December, the government will provide a stipend to enable the victim to “quickly leave the home, take shelter and meet immediate expenses” with an amount dictated by their level of resources and the number of children to support.  

HOW IT WORKS 

This universal emergency assistance for victims of domestic violence can be claimed by spouses, people who are in a PACS or legal civil partnership or agreement, or persons in a committed relationship.  

The funds will be paid in one instalment within three to five days of the request and documentation of an act of violence. This can be done by lodging a formal complaint, alerting the public prosecutor and being issued a protection order by the family courts.  

The victim must then submit one of these documents to the Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF) or to the Mutualité Sociale Agricole (MSA) in person or online via www.caf.fr or www.msa.fr. Any documentation presented must be less than a year old. Alternatively, the victim can request the application be filed at the same time as the lodging of their complaints via a simplified form.  

Depending on the situation, assistance will come in the form of a loan or an outright grant. 

For those with no children, they will get 1.5 times the minimum wage (SMIC), currently €2,029 per month. With one child, that figure increases to a monthly stipend of €3,044. For two children, it is €3,653, and for those with three or more dependents, it is €4,465 monthly.  

For those being gifted the funds, there is a review each 1st April to reassess the victim’s circumstances.  

The perpetrator of the abuse may be ordered by the courts to repay the loan, rather than the victim. This is not a guarantee, but a likelihood.  

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Photo source: Kirk Cameron, Unsplash

Against a backdrop of the ongoing COP28 climate talks, Monaco’s government has offered its support to the work of the Institut de la Francophonie pour le Développement Durable via a four-year financing accord. 

In an official communiqué released on 4th December, the Monegasque government, which is being represented at COP28 in Dubai by Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, announced that a finance-based agreement had been signed with the Institut de la Francophonie pour le Développement Durable (IFDD), or the Institute of La Francophonie for Sustainable Development in English.  

According to a government spokesperson, the agreement “aims to support and strengthen the capacities of French-speaking actors in mobilising international funding”. 

It will enter into force on 1st January 2024 and continue until 1st February 2028.  

The IFDD is a branch of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) that represents the interests of countries and regions where French is the official or customary language, or where “a significant proportion of the population are francophones, or where there is a notable affiliation with French culture”.  

“The OIF, through its subsidiary body, the IFDD, would like to warmly thank the Government of Monaco for its contribution, which will help to develop and to promote a unique key instrument and facilitator for access to sustainable finance,” said a representative for the OIF following the signing.  

“Aware that this issue constitutes a major challenge for the full implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Principality of Monaco welcomes the extension of its partnership with the IFDD, with a view to supporting French-speaking stakeholders in their access to climate finance,” concluded a spokesperson for the Monegasque government.  

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Photo source: IFDD / Facebook

As the final month of 2023 begins, the last in the centenary year of Prince Rainier III’s birth, the Principality is continuing to reflect on the impact the late Prince made as well as the legacy he left behind.  

THE PRINCE AND THE MEDITERRANEAN  

On 6th December, the Oceanographic Museum will open a completely revamped space as a tribute to Prince Rainier and his lifelong commitment to ocean protection. It will showcase his actions both nationally, such as the creation of Monaco’s marine reserves, as well as internationally, including his fight to stop nuclear waste from being dumped into the Mediterranean Sea, the founding of the Pelagos Sanctuary and RAMOGE. 

The Prince and the Mediterranean will be part of the overall 700m2 ‘Monaco and the Ocean’ permanent exhibition room that offers visitors an “immersive and interactive journey” through the reigns of the Monegasque sovereigns Albert I, Rainer III and Albert II, and their separate efforts to protect the world’s oceans.  

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE 

On 7th December, the Christmas Village will open on Port Hercule with the theme for this year of Rainer III, Passionate Prince. This much-loved annual fun fair will feature plenty of different attractions and stands alongside music events and live entertainment. 

In line with the motif, there will be scenes decorated with photos of the Prince enjoying the things he loved most: motor sports, the arts, animals and the sea.  

See more: Dates announced for Monaco’s Prince Rainier III-themed Christmas Village

RAINIER IN HIS OWN WORDS  

Two chances to view the film Rainier III par Lui-Même can be had on 7th December at 6.30pm at the Cinéma des Beaux-Arts and on 18th December at the Théâtre des Variétés at 8pm.   

Directed by Yann-Antony Noghès, and with the input of historians Thomas Fouilleron and Vincent Vatrican, the film gives exclusive insight into the inner workings of the Prince based on interviews and speeches given by Prince Rainier.  

UN PRINCE, UN MUSÉE 

From 15th December to the end of March 2024, the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology will host the Un Prince, Un Musée (One Prince, One Museum) exhibit celebrating Prince Rainier’s vision for this important place, which was founded to preserve the country’s prehistorical treasures.  

In addition to the excavation sites, which are priceless, there will also be exhibits on the support he and Princess Grace gave to the museum through donations. 

BALLET TRIBUTE SHOW 

Finally, on 20th December at 7.30pm, the Ballets de Monte-Carlo will perform two pieces that were particular favourites of Prince Rainier in his honour at the Grimaldi Forum’s fittingly named Salle des Princes.   

The first is La Valse by George Balanchine. Created in 1951 and first performed in Monaco in 1994, the Prince loved this ballet because of Ravel’s score. He was a huge fan of the composer, and he and Princess Grace had welcomed the famous Russian choreographer on several occasions, making this a rather personal work for him.  

The second is Jean-Christophe Maillot’s take on L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, which premiered in 1992. This too had a Ravel score and is filled with the magic of childhood. Maillot’s modern interpretation kept all the original charm of the piece, but made it relevant to contemporary audiences.  

For more information on each of these events, click here. 

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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department

For an afternoon full of fun and festive spirit, children aged six and over should head to the Princess Caroline Ludothèque on Boulevard Albert 1er this Wednesday for a decoration-making workshop.  

From 2pm to 6pm on Wednesday 6th December, children aged six and up are invited to join in with a Christmas decoration-making workshop at the Princess Caroline Ludothèque found at 1 Boulevard Albert 1er. 

Some of the ideas for these holiday-inspired DIY decorations organisers include holiday cards, snowmen, Christmas trees and ornaments, and the children taking part can create their very own Santa’s workshop from which to create the perfect gift to give to a special loved one. 

The event is being sponsored by the Monaco Mediathèque and the Mairie de Monaco. Advance reservations aren’t required, but you can call ahead on +377 93 15 22 72 for more information or click here for the website. 

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Photo source: Jeshoots.com, Unsplash  

From 1st January, the recycling of organic waste will be obligatory in France. Here’s how the government says it will work.  

Cities like San Francisco have been doing it for a quarter of a century with impressive results, but in France, the idea of recycling organic waste is relatively new. The country’s bio-waste plans originated in 2015 and were furthered by the Anti-Waste Circular Economy Law, which was passed in February 2020. Things have been percolating ever since, and now a 1st January 2024 deadline for the obligatory sorting of bio-waste by households is looming.  

With that date is fast approaching, the government has published a set of guidelines to help the public follow the new rules, but there are still valid questions on how and when compliance will realistically be possible.  

DEALING WITH BIO-WASTE 

Bio-waste is a rather narrow category that includes food and catering waste, like leftover meals, vegetable peelings and expired food products, as well as garden waste, such as grass clippings, dead leaves and twigs from pruning.  

Traditionally, most of these items have disappeared into general household waste bins destined for rubbish heaps or incinerators. As of 1st January 2024, however, French households will be legally obliged to separate these compostable organic materials, which account for roughly a third of the annual waste produced in the home, as part of a larger EU-wide plan concerning garbage. 

See more: Composting revolution coming to France in 2024

The programme is targeted at not only individuals, but also at administrations, businesses and communities, and is being partially funded by a green fund set aside for this purpose.  

HOW IT WILL WORK

Municipalities are being given relatively free reign on how to implement the new rules. Some are choosing to distribute small counter-top bins that can be left outside the home for a dedicated collection service to pick up while others are installing municipal collection points, like those already available across much of the country for glass, plastic and paper waste.  

Whatever the method of collection, the bio-waste recuperated will then be processed and turned into compost to be used for other purposes.  

To lessen the burden on towns and cities, the government is also encouraging home composting as an alternative for those who have the type of property where this is possible. 

IS FRANCE READY? 

The plan is certainly a noble one that makes an enormous amount of sense when it comes to reducing waste, but are communities ready for such changes, despite having a long lead time to prepare?  

The short answer is no. Many municipalities have not put the basics in place, nor have they put aside funding to make it happen by the deadline. The additional costs are estimated to come in at somewhere between €8 and €15 per person each year for the necessary facilities to be created and maintained; too much money for some and too much effort for others.  

According to comments by Alexandra Gentric, National Coordinator for Biowaste Management at ADEME, France’s Environment and Energy Management Agency, to 20minutes.fr in September, “Things are moving, with lots of projects being set up, but we are far from ready. At the last count, it is estimated that only a quarter of the French population will have a solution deployed by a community [by the deadline], if individual composting is not an option.” 

The bottom line is that, as the clock ticks ever closer to the New Year’s goal, many places will not or cannot comply. As of now, no fines will be imposed on those not following the rules, but this may change in the future if towns and cities continue to drag their heels. 

Click here for more information.

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Photo source: Markus Spiske, Unsplash