Children mobilize with Prince Albert at Monaco Ocean Week and other Monaco news
In Monaco Spring is full throttle bringing all its business, events and buzz. And if you didn’t have much time to follow the news this week, HelloMonaco will put you up to date with this digest.
Children show Prince Albert their love for Monaco’s Beaches at Monaco Ocean Week
It’s an idea that has captured the imagination of school-children and their teachers in their class 7C of the Revoire School in Monaco. They are at the Oceanographic Museum to welcome and be welcomed by Prince Albert II, Pierre Casiraghi, Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Government Advisor-Minister of Equipment, Environment and of Urbanism, Patrice Cellario, Government Advisor-Minister of the Interior, and Isabelle Bonnal, Director of Education.
The Sporting Summer Festival Springs Into View
Spring is in the air as SBM unveils its Sporting Summer Festival. We already have a glimpse of the excitement to come. Salle Garnier’s concert for Vanessa Paradis on July 5 is already sold out. The day before the swell and groovy Charlie Winston, the UK’s beloved performer on the French continent, plucks the strings of his base guitar – sporting of course his trademark chapeau.
Concours des Chefs de Superyachts: a unique competition at the Yacht Club de Monaco
As part of its “La Belle Classe Academy” training centre, dedicated to professionals in the Yachting industry and offering a “Art of Service” module, the Yacht Club de Monaco is partnering with Bluewater to organise – for the second consecutive year – a culinary competition, under the presidency of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, bringing together 12 superyacht chefs over 40 metres in length.
Official opening of temporary garden “A Balcony on the Mediterranean”
A temporary garden titled “A Balcony on the Mediterranean” was officially opened on the public terraces of the Monte-Carlo Star recently by Minister of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, who was accompanied by Xavier Beck, First Vice-President of the Alpes-Maritimes Departmental Council and Mayor of Cap d’Ail, and Jean-Luc Puyo, Director of Urban Amenities, as well as a number of Monegasque personalities.
A Haul of Medals for Monaco at the 2019 Special Olympics World Games
The 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games is a multi-sport event for athletes with intellectual disabilities in the tradition of the Special Olympics movement. It was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and Dubai from March 14–21, 2019 with Monaco making a great showing.
Start of Road improvements: Resurfacing of the Grand Prix Circuit
A few weeks before the E-Prix (May 11) and Grand Prix Formula 1 (May 26), the Directorate of Urban Development will proceed, as every year, with an operation to improve the roads which form part of the circuit.
Monaco City Council Acts Decisively to Improve Social Services
Social Services and Social Activities provided by the City Council, currently all grouped within one department, is splitting into two…
Baby Tour: Students perform Musical Concerts at Nursery Schools
Students from the Rainier III Academy performed music for toddlers in Monegasque nursery schools during the 2019 Baby Tour. On Tuesday 2 April, the tour travelled to four nurseries: Monaco-Ville Nursery, L’Ile aux Bambins, La Roseraie and Jardin d’Eveil. Forty students and eight teachers were welcomed by the Mayor and elected officials before the tour began.
After the success of a concert in 2018, which took place at L’Ile aux Bambins nursery school, the 2019 edition of the event expanded to include three more nursery schools around Monaco. A harp, clarinet, accordion and double bass quartet performed for the first nursery; songs as well as a violin and piano duet were performed at the second; a quintet of mandolins and percussion at the third; and the Baby Tour concluded with a quartet of recorders, violas and a trio of trombones.
The toddlers were very receptive during all four concerts by listening to the different instruments and even interacting with them. The student musicians and teachers showed the young children their musical instruments, which sparked a lot of interest and curiosity.
11th Franco-Monegasque Commission focuses on European Union, Employment and Health
The 11th Franco-Monegasque Cooperation Commission (CCFM) took place in Paris on 1 April. The yearly meetings discuss and confirm relations of friendship and cooperation between France and the Principality of Monaco.
This year’s agenda included the ongoing negotiations between the Principality of Monaco and the European Union. France and Monaco stressed the need to take into account the specificities of Monaco in the future draft Association Agreement in order to preserve the internal balances of the Principality. France reiterated its full support of Monaco for the continuation of these negotiations. The committee also reflected on the local cross-border commission of 11 January 2019 to improve mobility in the Franco-Monegasque basin, in particular the progress of the Beausoleil ramp project.
Concerning health, the committee mentioned the two Franco-Monegasque agreements on health security and blood transfusions. The Principality of Monaco has proposed that its hospital services receive medical interns following their French training courses. The forthcoming signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation will grant professional health cards to Monegasque pharmacists.
In the area of labor law, difficulties related to the application of the Unemployment Insurance Convention were discussed. Prospects for a bilateral agreement have been put forward in order to restore access to employment aid for employees in Monaco. The Commission also discussed the housing conditions of French people of Monaco.
Transport safety is a common concern. The committee discussed the safety of the Rainier III tunnel linking the Principality to France. The two countries also welcome the publication of a decree for Monegasque passport holders to benefit from the Rapid Border Crossing (Parafe) scheme.
In the field of education, the committee welcomed measures adopted by France to prevent Monegasques from paying differentiated university fees in September 2019. France and the Principality of Monaco, united in the same commitment to environmental issues, spoke about the protection of the oceans and the upcoming deadlines for international negotiations on climate, biodiversity and the Global Environment Pact.
This year’s meeting was co-chaired by Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, General Secretary of the Europe Ministry of Foreign Affairs and HE Serge Telle, Minister of State of Monaco. The next Franco-Monegasque Cooperation Commission will be held in 2020 in Monaco.
National Council President and Vice-President are Re-elected
The President and Vice-President were re-elected during the National Council Spring Session debate. As the only candidate, Stéphane Valeri unsurprisingly received the majority with 21 votes. Brigitte Boccone-Pagès was unanimously re-elected as Vice-President of the National Council with 24 votes.
The first thing newly re-elected President Valeri did was praise the consensus found on the housing plan. He has already made an appointment with the government over the summer to evaluate the measures taken at the end of 2018 concerning the supervision of building sites.
Upcoming controversial subjects will be on the agenda this spring, when the National Council will be discussing: the decriminalization of abortions, common law contracts and businesses staying open on Sundays.
Maintenance Workers go on Strike in Monaco
City maintenance workers went on strike on Thursday in the hopes that they can keep their state medical service (SPME) after retirement. Dozens of employees who take care of green spaces, roads and water sanitation took to the streets of Fontvieille during the demonstrations.
Back in November 2016, workers submitted a petition on the subject with 5,000 signatures. At the beginning of January, the union also sent a letter to the Minister of State. The government allegedly responded by saying the union’s request is not possible because general international principles concerning social security apply, meaning that pensioners are affiliated with the regime of their place of residence, not their place of work.
However, pensioners from Switzerland who live in France have the right to choose between French and Swiss social security, for example. This choice is not possible in Monaco.