Day: 21 February 2019

On Tuesday, February 19, Mrs. Clotilde Ferry, Counselor at the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Monaco to the United Nations, participated in the 57th session of the Commission for Social Development. The theme was “fight against inequalities and barriers to social inclusion through fiscal and wage policies and social protection policies”.

In her address, Mrs Ferry outlined the concrete actions that the Principality is taking to reduce inequalities and fight against social exclusion.

On the national level, she notably mentioned the “Monaco Youth and Sustainable Development” meetings, which make it possible to empower the Principality’s students and make them aware of the importance of energy transition and sustainable development.

Mrs Ferry also mentioned the Graduate Integration Commission, which, since 2010, has enabled 236 young people to be integrated into the Monegasque economic fabric.

In the area of ​​health, which accounts for 8% of the Principality’s budget, the Monaco Disease Power and AMAPEI associations support the actions of the Prince’s Government to promote the social inclusion of people with disabilities.

Finally, Mrs Ferry highlighted the actions of the International Cooperation, in particular, those related to the promotion of entrepreneurship in developing countries by means of micro-credits, as well as the actions of the Monegasque Red Cross, strongly committed in favour of the socio-economic integration of young people.

On 19 and 20 February 2019, HSH Prince Albert II travelled to Belgium for a diplomatic, environmental and cultural visit.

In Brussels, at the Berlaymont building, late Tuesday morning, 19 February, Prince Albert met with Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, and his staff in the presence of HE Ms Sophie Thévenoux, Ambassador, Head of Mission of Monaco to the European Union, Mr. Gilles Tonelli, Counselor-Minister of Foreign Relations and Cooperation and Ms. Anne-Marie Boisbouvier, Counselor in the Cabinet of HSH the Prince.

The Sovereign Prince and Mr Juncker discussed the progress of the negotiations, started in March 2015, on the Association Agreement between the Principality and the European Union, which would offer Monaco a stable institutional framework for its relations with the institutions.

European countries and the member states. It would also open up opportunities for cooperation in teaching, research or other shared areas.

The Prince recalled the importance he attaches to the conclusion of a balanced Association Agreement that respects both the main principles of the European Union while preserving the vital interests of Monaco, thus guaranteeing the legitimate continuity of the Principality.

The Sovereign Prince and President Juncker welcomed the progress achieved in the negotiations so far. President Juncker underlined the ambition of the Union to conclude the negotiations on the agreement by June 2019, including specific provisions taking into account the specificities of Monaco.

This ambition gives a strong political signal respecting the Monegasque identity.
If such an agreement were reached in June, it would be a crucial step in the drafting of the eventual Association Agreement.

Later in the day, at a reception organised by the Monaco Embassy in Belgium, The Prince also met the members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), as well as the main officials of the Commission European Union and the Council of the European Union.

In his speech, the Sovereign Prince said: “I want to believe that we will come together, to develop an Association Agreement that respects the interests of each. I very much hope that taking into consideration the specificities of Monaco will allow an association with the European Union, whose motto is Unie dans la diversité.”

As part of his environmental work, the Sovereign Prince participated in a high-level Conference on Climate Change and Ocean Conservation on 19 February in the early morning at Egmont Palace.

HSH the Prince spoke at the conference alongside Mr Charles Michel, Belgian Prime Minister, Ms Marie-Christine Marghem, Belgian Federal Minister for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development and Mr Philippe de Backer, Minister for digital agenda, telecommunications and postal affairs, responsible for administrative simplification, the fight against social fraud, the protection of privacy and the North Sea.

In his speech, Prince Albert warned of the dangers of the progressive depletion of land resources and the growing importance of the oceans.

Organised jointly by Marie-Christine Marghem and Philippe de Backer, this conference focused on three themes: climate change and the impact on the biodiversity of the oceans, oceans and energy, and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of ships, where many personalities have spoken, such as Mrs Brune Poirson, State Secretary to the Minister for the Ecological and Solidarity Transition, Mr Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries or Mr. Denis Allemand, Director of the Monaco Scientific Center.

That same day, HSH the Prince also participated in the CDP Europe Awards 2019 at the Brussels City Hall where he was welcomed by the Mayor Philippe Close.

During this event, the Sovereign recalled His personal commitment for more than 25 years in the field of the Environment, the actions He has led through His Foundation for more than 10 years and the commitment of His Government for the implementing sustainable solutions that promote energy transition, sustainable mobility and the promotion of renewable energies.

The CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) is an organization that analyzes companies’ performance on three key topics – climate protection, sustainable water management and the fight against deforestation – and grades from A to D.

The following day, Tuesday, February 20, HSH Prince Albert II visited the Hergé Museum in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve before attending a masterclass of the French cellist Gautier Capuçon and a masterclass of singing at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel (Waterloo).
The Sovereign Prince later visited the Folon Foundation; museum located in the farm of the Castle of Hulpe and created in 2000 by Jean-Michel Folon.

This visit highlights the strong links that continue to unite the Belgian artist with the Principality. The Monegasque landscape is today still adorned with poetic works by the sculptor who worked in Monaco for 20 years; The Folon Foundation recently opened the Atelier Folon, located on Quai Antoine Ier, to the public.

The Monaco City Hall took advantage of the winter to renovate the 18-hole mini-golf course nestled in the heart of the Princess Antoinette Park. Very popular with families and snaking between the olive trees of the park, the mini-golf reopened a few days ago.

Lasting three months, the work, carried out by the Communal Technical Services, consisted of the creation of a drainage network; the terracing of all the playgrounds (ie almost 50m3 of clay and draining sub-layer); the restoration of the draining sub-layer; the grooming as well as the repainting of the concreted parts.

The 18-hole mini-golf course, which occupies a surface area of ​​1,100 m² in the heart of the Princess Antoinette Park, required the setting up of 8 tons of clay.

At the same time, asphalt replacement has been carried out over the past few months at several places in the Princess Antoinette Park: in the large alley between the upper esplanade and the children’s games on the middle plate; in the alley between the children’s games of the middle board and the nursery as well as in the aisle of the upper entrance between the entrance gate and the esplanade.

The Rainier III Academy has initiated “The Thursdays of the Academy”, when it will open its doors one Thursday per month, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

This is an initiative of the Director, Christian Tourniaire, supported by his Delegate, Karyn Ardisson-Salopek, to present one of the music departments represented within the establishment and discover more particularly an instrument (or a family of instruments) as well as the musical universe that accompanies it.

These sessions are open to all people outside the Academy interested in the theme presented.

In parallel, “Jeudis de l’Académie” also allows the youngest students (5 years old) currently in the Musical Awakening class to approach the instruments more closely and in a practical way to help them in their future choice of music.

“Jeudis de l’Académie” began on January 17th with the Piano Department presented by one of its professors, Pauline Descharmes.

The next date to remember is February 28 when the public can discover the Wind Department – led by Michel Mugot, bassoon teacher at the Rainier III Academy. The meeting will be organised around the instruments of the family of brass (trumpets, horn, tuba…) and that of the woods (flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon…).

Finally, note the four dates that will follow:

• Thursday, March 14 – Department of Early Music (coordinator: Camille Mugot, harpsichord teacher)
• Thursday, April 25 – Department of Chamber Music (coordinator: Thibaut Ponsin, assistant specialist – chamber music)
• Thursday 16th May – Polyphonic Department (coordinator: Noëlle Vera, harp teacher)
• Thursday, June 13th – Musical Training Department (coordinator: Bernadette Hudelot, Chargé de Classes with Timetables and Music Training)

“The Thursdays of the Academy”
From 18:30 to 19:30 – Rainier III Academy, Auditorium Marc-César Scotto
Free admission

Company Monegasque de Bank and the Oceanographic Institute have renewed their partnership agreement for 2019, strengthening their efforts to achieve a sustainable future.

Since 2010, through its patronage action, CMB has been supporting the Oceanographic Institute in its mission to “make the oceans known, loved and protected”. The partnership agreement is thus renewed for the year 2019 between the two institutions represented by Etienne Franzi and Werner Peyer, respectively President and CEO of CMB, and Robert Calcagno, Director General of the Oceanographic Institute.

Compagnie Monégasque de Banque contributes to the implementation of mediation actions with the Institute’s public in order to raise awareness, convince and engage as many people as possible in the protection of the ocean and its biodiversity. Through this financial support, the Institute is further strengthening the dissemination of its message.

From spring, the partnership will take shape, in particular, through the involvement of Compagnie Monégasque de Banque in the implementation and operation of a programme of educational activities dedicated to marine turtles. Despite their status as protected species, marine turtles are threatened at all stages of their development. By providing its support, CMB wishes to contribute to the protection of these emblematic animals by raising awareness among young people about their fragility.

The Oceanographic Institute says it is delighted with this ongoing collaboration, which reflects the common philosophy that unites the two institutions, that of a more sustainable future.

“CMB’s presence alongside the Oceanographic Institute marks our company’s commitment over the past few years to environmental and climate issues,” said Franzi, adding that “the choices of our partnerships are always in line with those of the Principality. Through this one, we are working with the Institute for the preservation of the planet and of the oceans.”