Jean-Luc Nguyen, Director of the Mission for Energy Transition Photo: Manuel Vitali/Direction de la Communication
Thursday evening at the Yacht Club, Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Minister of Public Works, Environment and Urban Development, and Jean-Luc Nguyen, Director of the Mission for Energy Transition, presented the “White Paper” (Le Livre Blanc) on “The Energy Transition of the Principality of Monaco”, in the presence of HSH Prince Albert.
Concluding the presentation, attended by some 100 people at the Yacht Club, HSH stressed the importance he attaches to the Principality’s energy transition, with regard to commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: -50% in 2030, compared to 1990, and carbon neutrality by 2050.
Touching upon the development of solar panels, banning fuel oil for heating, and perhaps a car-free day initiative, the Prince said, “Be assured of my determination that our community will evolve in a progressive but irreversible way towards this energetic transition.”
To achieve these ambitious aims, the approach of the White Paper on Energy Transition is to collect and bring together the views, actions and expectations of key players in Monaco – 59 organisations and almost 90 people were interviewed – in order to define the shared roadmap that will lead towards the goals of 2050.
These carbon neutral objectives imply a reduction rate four times faster than that which has been monitored so far and require the commitment and action of the entire Monegasque community. A policy carried out by the Government on three priority axes: mobility, waste management and energy efficiency of buildings.
Therefore, incentives and a regulatory framework will be implemented in order to encourage the behavioural changes that are essential to driving Monaco towards decarbonisation.
The issues and lines of action identified by the White Paper participants are presented in the document published on March 23, 2017, which can be downloaded from the Government’s website.
While Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport has been adding numerous destinations within France and Europe in recent months, a much more significant development has been announced that will greatly facilitate travel between the Middle East and the Riviera.
From July 1, Emirates Airlines will add a daily A380 service. While Nice currently has a daily flight from Dubai operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, the addition of the A380 represents a capacity increase of 44 percent on the route.
Emirates said that with 3,633 weekly capacity it will offer more seats to the Middle East and beyond than any other international airline. Nice is now an important part of the airline‘s global network, the airline said.
“Emirates started flying to Nice on July 15, 1994, almost 23 years ago,” Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ Executive Vice-President and CCO said at a press conference Thursday. “Since then, almost two million passengers have travelled with us on the route, with over 200,000 last year alone.
“We’re excited to see the city join the other 46 destinations Emirates currently serves with the A380 and look forward to being the first airline to fly this iconic aircraft to Nice. We expect the A380 service to further grow the number of leisure and business travellers that visit the South of France throughout the year.”
Flight EK77 will be operated by an A380 leaving Dubai at 8:45 am arriving in Nice at 1:40 pm. Flight EK78 will depart Nice at 3:40 pm, arriving in Dubai at 00:10 am the following day.
Since Dubai is such an important hub, passengers will enjoy optimal A380 to A380 connections in Dubai to Aukland, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo, and more.
Dominique Thillaud, President, Cote d’Azur Airports, commented: “I am thrilled to welcome the A380, a prestigious and iconic aircraft. Nice will be the only city in France, other than Paris, to boast a scheduled A380 service.
“The team at Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth arrival, from runway optimisation to boarding bridge modernisation. Emirates’ decision to upgrade its daily service to Nice confirms the appeal of our region, important enough to sustain a year-round long-haul flight.”
Emirates has also said it is working with Monacair to offer helicopter transfers between Nice airport and Monaco, including a limousine service from Monaco’s heliport to their final destination. The service will be complimentary to First Class passengers, €79 per passenger for Business Class and €109 per passenger for Economy Class.
Jan E. Frydman, Head of Delegation of the Swedish Bar Association to the Council of European Bars and Law Societies
The Swedish Bar Association’s annual conference will hold its Gala at the Monaco Yacht Club on Saturday, March 25. The dinner will be held in the presence of HE Veronika Wand-Danielsson, Ambassador of Sweden to France and Monaco, Patricia Husson, Consul General of Sweden to Monaco, Alexis Marquet, Batonnier de Monaco, and Jan E. Frydman, Head of Delegation of the Swedish Bar Association to the Council of European Bars and Law Societies.
The evening will conclude a two-day international congress in Nice and Monaco. Mr Frydman, who is also Special Adviser to the European Commissioner for Trade, has been in charge of organising of the prestigious event. “Every year, and for the past 20 some years now, the International Chapter holds an annual meeting somewhere in the world, as it is supposed to cover all Members practicing outside of Sweden,” Mr Frydman told Monaco Life. “And in connection with that, the Chapter also organises the annual ‘International Days’, available to all Members of the Swedish Bar. We have been in London, Paris, Istanbul, Barcelona, Lisbon and elsewhere.”
Wanting to offer participants an opportunity to learn more about his favourite location, Mr Frydman chose Monaco, which he finds a fascinating country “that has so much more to offer than low taxes and glamour”. Of course, he added, “Monaco is an unusually well functioning society with a genuine life behind the beautiful facade that is interesting to explore and is less known. And Monaco can offer the highest quality in terms of accessibility, service, safety, gastronomy and cultural events, and has some of the world’s most outstanding venues.”
The Côte d’Azur is one of the most popular regions for Swedes living abroad and the Swedish club, Rivieraklubben, counts 2,000 members, unusually high for a local association. “The latest figures I have is that some 30,000 Swedes live permanently in France, of which, in the PACA region, 10,000 reside full-time with 10,000 owning a second home. I also understand there are some 300 Swedes living in Monaco,” the lawyer commented.
This week’s conference in Nice and Monaco will be attended by more 100 Swedish lawyers practicing in Sweden and around the world, and it will include International Days, covering two days of seminars and speeches to update participants on the activities of the Bar, and on current legal issues of particular relevance.
The Swedish Bar Association – Le Barreau de Suède – is divided into several regional chapters, and each Member of the Bar also belongs to such a local chapter, depending on where in Sweden she or he practices law. The close to 100 Members who practice Swedish law outside of Sweden belong to the International Chapter.
“This year we will cover the legal systems in France and Monaco, how to do business in France and Monaco, and how to buy real estate in the region,” Mr Frydman, who’s been a Member of the Bar since 2001, said. “We will also discuss current legal issues such as the impact of Brexit on the legal profession, issues related to the Swedish constitution and the rule of law. The seminars satisfy part of the annual continuing education requirement for Members.”
Founded in 1887, the Swedish Bar Association has approximately 5,700 Members and organises all formally practicing lawyers in Sweden; only Members of the Bar may use the professional title “advokat”.
“I have served as a Director of the International Chapter, and as a Member of the Board of Governors. I am currently the Bar’s Head of Delegation to the Council of European Bars and Law Societies, Mr Frydman detailed. “In that capacity, I represent the Bar in front of all European Bar Associations on topics involving the international and cross-border practice of law, and broader issues such as democracy, rule of law and human rights.”
Unrelated to the Bar, Mr Frydman has an official function serving as the Conseiller to the European Commissioner for Trade – or the European Trade Minister – work in Brussels.
The Swedish Bar Association’s annual conference runs from March 24-25, 2017 in Nice and Monaco.
Apollo Enterprise Solutions (AES), an Application Software Technology company, has announced the launch of a Pilot Programme for its Artificial Intelligence-powered TrueWealth Management software aimed at asset managers, family offices and banks.
During a series of events held last week in Geneva, Monaco and Zurich, financial executives were introduced to how the revolutionary TrueWealthManager™ “improves client acquisition and communication in this highly competitive sector”. Over 60 asset managers were able to explore the unique capabilities of the software powered by Oracle and designed for their needs.
Joseph Konowiecki, AES CEO, stated, “The Asset Management industry is undergoing a multi-generational shift. Big banks are competing with medium and small family offices and asset managers for clients who are increasingly dissatisfied with service and returns in a zero interest rate world.”
Combining the science of Artificial Intelligence with effective communication methods to constantly attract new potential clients, TrueWealthManager™ will “assist with the KYC Due Diligence process”, as well as “constantly communicate with the client in the manner that he or she wishes”.
Mr Konowiecki added, “We feel there is simply no other technology in the marketplace that can compete with us in terms of offering small to large asset managers the competitive edge in attracting and retaining clients.”
AES has chosen to launch the Pilot Programme, including up to 12 banks and asset managers, in Switzerland, Luxembourg, the UK, and Monaco. This will be followed by an Official Launch on May 1 in all EU financial centres., with US market launch scheduled for Q3.
The Canadian Confederation in Monaco will be marking its 150th anniversary with afternoon tea at the Salle Empire of the Hotel de Paris, on March 29 at 4 pm.
The third event of the Confederation celebrations will focus on a specific moment of the historic relation between Canada and the United Kingdom: the signature by Queen Victoria of the British North America Act on March 29, 1867, which facilitated the final approval of the Canadian Confederation on July 1 of the same year.
“We will offer you a classic English Afternoon Tea. The menu will include finger sandwiches, rich scones with clotted cream, and fine pastries all accompanied by a large choice of teas, and heightened by fine Champagne,” the organisers say.
This event is put on by the Canadian Consulate in Monaco, represented by Marc Devito, Honorary Consul of Canada in Monaco, the Consulate of the United Kingdom in Monaco, represented by Eric Blair, in collaboration with the Canadian Club of Monaco presided by France Rioux and BAM (British Association of Monaco), presided by Vanessa Ilsley.
As places are limited, participation will be reserved in the order reservations are received along with payment. Tickets are €90, and €55 for children under-12.
The Canadian theme will also be reflected in a wine event at the Meridien Beach Plaza, from March 25 through March 27. Henry de Bellegarde is inviting wine aficionados to taste its 2015 crus, billed as the best vintage for 20 years. The wines are the same as those served during the recent Canadian gastronomy. The free tastings will be held each day from 10:30 am until 7 pm.
