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Month: June 2020

Weekend reopening for Larvotto Beach

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/06/2020

Larvotto Beach will reopen to the public as planned on Saturday 4th July – midway through its major redevelopment.
“The beach is opening in a few days thanks to the efforts of all the teams who continued their activity during the confinement period, in strict compliance with sanitary measures. I want to thank them,” said Minister of Equipment, Environment and Town Planning Marie-Pierre Gramaglia who was on site late Tuesday. “We wanted this work to continue after we had ceased all other public constructions because we were certain that Monegasques and residents, at the end of the confinement period, would be happy to find quality public spaces, accessible and convivial.”
As scheduled in the project’s plans, the beach will be open to the public from Saturday 4th July until Sunday 13th September between 7am and 8pm in July and August, and from 8am to 7pm in September. Like every year, the beach and water quality will be monitored by authorities and an anti jellyfish net will be set up.
The construction site has been beautified with the installation of around 80 plants, while temporary showers and toilets will be available to swimmers.
Two eateries will be open for customers: le palais du Maillot for snacks and Le Miami brasserie/restaurant.
The beach will be accessible from avenue Princesse Grace, via a secure walkway above the site and then an elevator or stairs, which have been separated to control flows.
On the beach, social distancing must be respected.
The car park will remain open with limited capacity and with only one access ramp.
Work will continue behind the palisade all summer with the goal of fully opening the beach and shops in the summer of 2021.
 
Photo: © Direction de la Communication-Michael Alesi
 
 

Government lays out latest recovery plan

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/06/2020

Monaco will extend its financial support for businesses most affected by the Covid crisis as part of a new four-point plan to revive the local economy.
At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Health Minister Didier Gamerdinger and Finance Minister Jean Castellini detailed the new concrete measures that the government is taking to support recovery, covering everything from financial support to developing e-commerce.
Reinforced Temporary Total Unemployment (CTTR)
“Everyone agrees, it is not possible to extend this assistance and job protection scheme indefinitely, which affected up to 22,000 workers in mid-March and another 14,700 in May. So far it has cost the State €70 million,” said Didier Gamerdinger.
The Minister went on to reveal the latest financial support his government will make available:
For companies that resumed their activity from 4th May, the State will maintain CTTR for the month of June, then reduce it by 10% in July and an additional 10% in August. The company will be responsible for making up the difference. For companies that reopened on 2nd June, such as cafes, restaurants, and sporting venues, the reduction of 10% in CTTR will only take place in August. For nightclubs that have not reopened, the CTTR system will be kept as it is.
Meanwhile, traders, restaurateurs and bars on the Rock who are still experiencing difficulty will not have their CTTR support reduced.
The government will review the overall situation in mid-August before announcing the measures to be adopted in September.
Social security support
The Prince’s Government aims to go further in helping the sectors particularly affected by the crisis: tourism, events, culture, sport and other certain businesses, which could concern up to 620 companies.
As of July, the State will pay half of the social security contributions (retirement and sick leave) for companies in need of support, with the exception of those already subsidised by the State. To qualify, these companies will have a turnover of no more than €1 million in 2019 and will have to provide proof of a loss of turnover of at least 20% in June.
The Economic Recovery Support Commission (CARE)
The CARE Commission is chaired by Finance Minister Jean Castellini and is composed of representatives from AMAF, the Order of Chartered Accountants, the Budget and Treasury Department, the Welcome Office’s Laurence Garino, and Chairman of the Finance Committee and the Economy of the National Council Balthazar Seydoux. Each week from July it will be charged with examining the aid files for businesses in difficulty.
“CARE will study the files of companies with a turnover of less than €5 million, which will have to present a forecast balance sheet for the months of July to September. State aid will result in the assumption of up to 50% of fixed costs to which may be added expenses directly linked to the revival of the activity (communication, prospecting trips, etc.), and aid capped at €35,000,” said Jean Castellini.
Enhancing the attractiveness of the Principality
The government will push ahead with the implementation of the Monaco Safe Label, designed to reassure customers and tourists that the health recommendations in force in the Principality are being respected.
Meanwhile, the Welcome Office will embark on a promotional campaign for retail and restaurants, and the Department of Tourism and Congresses will launch a marketing campaign to help revive the tourist industry.
Development of e-commerce
The government intends to boost the virtual commercial prospects of ​​companies through several channels, including the authorisation of PayPal in the Principality and the better positioning of Monaco in search engines, etc.
Digital Tokens Act
A law adopted in June by the National Council allows for the “investment in the economy of tomorrow” through the use of tokens, a financial innovation that facilitates the financing of certain sustainable projects.
 
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Top photo: ©Direction de la Communication-Michael Alesi
 
 

EU reveals “safe” travel list

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/06/2020

The United States, Russia and Brazil are not on a list of countries whose citizens are allowed to enter the EU when the block’s international borders reopen on Wednesday.
After much deliberation, European Union health chiefs on Tuesday finalised the list of countries for whom Europe’s borders will be open to on 1st July, down from 54 to just 14. The goal is to reopen to countries with the same or better epidemiological situation than the EU average – so those with 16 or fewer cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants over the past two weeks.
The United States is currently the country most affected by Covid-19 with more than 125,000 deaths, while Europe believes it has passed the peak of its outbreak.
The proposed “safe” list contains just 14 countries: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. The list also includes China, but only if visitors from the EU receive reciprocal treatment.
The list exists only as a recommendation since border control remains the responsibility of nations, but in his address on 14th June, President Emmanuel Macron said international borders with countries outside of the EU will reopen from 1st July “where the epidemic has been controlled”.
France’s Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has also already indicated that France will be following the EU’s list.
It is important to note that the rules are based around where travellers are coming from, not what passport they hold. Essential travel is still permitted during this period, as it has been during lockdown – including citizens of an EU country and non EU citizens who are permanent residents of an EU country and need to come home.
But holiday travel is off the cards for these non “safe” countries, for now.
More than 15 million Americans are estimated to travel to Europe each year, while some 10 million Europeans head across the Atlantic.
The list will be reviewed every two weeks, with new countries being added or dropped depending on their situations.
France has also announced a quarantine for all arrivals from outside Europe, but this is a voluntary measure.
Nationals from the United Kingdom will still be treated as EU citizens until the end of the Brexit transition period on 31st December 2020.
The UK is currently negotiating temporary “air bridges” with several EU member states, so that coronavirus does not totally block summer holidays – the busiest season in Europe for tourism.
 
 

New head of judicial police

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/06/2020

Jean-François Mirigay has been appointed by sovereign ordinance as the new head of the judicial police division.

The ordinance was published in the Journal of Monaco on Friday, stating that Jean-François Mirigay has succeeded acting head Stéphane Giorgetti as the new boss of the judicial police division.

Mr Mirigay was previously in Nice, where he had been a departmental director since 2016, having held the same position from 2012-2016 in Toulon.  

The 49-year-old is a graduate of the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Bordeaux and holds a DEA in political science and a master’s degree in public law. His career started in Lyon before he took a post in Sofia, Bulgaria. Back in France, he became head of the coordination centre for the fight against drugs in the Mediterranean in Toulon, then project manager at the national police before returning to Toulon in 2012.

The judicial police department covers several areas of policing including narcotics, finance, Interpol, science and cyber crime, working with various foreign services including the NCIS in Great Britain and the FBI in the United States.

 
 

Pictures: Super yacht built to look like Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/06/2020

Yacht Island Design has envisaged an astounding 155-metre-long floating city that mimics the streets and famous landmarks of the Principality, and even includes a racetrack.

Taking “home away from home” to a whole new level, Island Yacht Design has the plans to construct a mega-yacht using Monaco’s Mediterranean architecture and lifestyle as focal points, incorporating made-to-scale iconic landmarks such as the Casino, the Hôtel de Paris, the Palace, La Rascasse, Port Hercule and the Fairmont.

The massive boat requires a crew of 70 for 16 guests, though there is room for more, and uses a diesel electric propulsion system that runs at a steady 15 knots. The ‘Streets of Monaco’ has four decks – the upper deck has the exterior views of the landmarks and the lower being the interiors.

The master suite is spread out over two decks and is connected by passageways. Moving between them, it looks remarkably like the set up at the Fairmont. The Oasis is the lounge area of the yacht where most people will spend the day. This window-filled, light and airy design is made to look like the gardens outside of Casino Square. The space is dotted with verandas, pools, a gym and sun loungers. A marble staircase in the Oasis takes guests upstairs to the spa. This space includes a hair salon, manicure centre, sauna, steam rooms and a bar.

Guests can choose between relatively modest VIP Suites that are a mere 135 square metres or can opt for the Grand Suites which are a more sizable 356 square metres. The owner’s “apartment” is enormous, coming in at about 1,460 square metres and has all the comforts of home. There is an office, his and hers dressing rooms, a fireplace, a private sundeck with a jacuzzi and swimming pool and a lovely courtyard. A lift is available to take people between the decks.

The pièce de résistance is the replica of a portion of the Grand Prix track. The racetrack is fully functional and can manage up to three karts racing side by side, leaving plenty of room for overtaking. 

A sight-seeing submarine is also part of the deal and there is a huge “beach deck” where guests can take out jet skis, kayaks or paddleboards. A full size tennis court is located on the top deck for other sporty endeavours which doubles as a helicopter pad.

So, what does it cost to own a creation like this? The price tag comes in at a cool €1 billion. If you think about it, that’s a pretty good deal for all of that Monaco real estate!

 

 

 

Macron makes decisive “green” moves

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/06/2020

The municipal elections held on Sunday showed a decidedly green shift in the French electorate with environmentalist parties taking home victories in several big cities such as Lyon and Bordeaux. Now, President Macron has joined the green brigade, approving all but three suggestions made by the Citizen Convention.

In the aftermath of the elections, which saw some stunning green wins, the French President revealed his response to the recommendations made by 150 member Citizen Convention on Climate. His announcement, made pitch-perfectly in the idyllic Élysée Gardens, was a triumph for eco-warriors in the country, who see the need to act on behalf of the environment as an immediate concern.

Of the 149 proposals, President Emmanuel Macron has elected to incorporate 146. Some will be directly incorporated as standard regulatory measures integrated into the recovery plan set for September. Others will be handled by parliament in a multi-layer specific bill to be introduced, also in September.

The risk is that parliament will delay or block the measures, so Macron has put in place the right to organise a referendum on the topics in 2021, allowing the public to decide. Additionally, he is prepared to introduce another referendum to revise article 1 of the French Constitution to introduce concepts pertaining to biodiversity, climate change and environmental matters. The constitutional preamble will not be changed to include the environment, though, as it “threatens to place the protection of the environment above public freedoms,” according to the head of state.

The three rejects were a 110kph speed limit on highways, a 4% dividend tax and the change to the preamble.

Macron has been fighting hard to create an image of ecological defender, though it has been a tough road. In the lead up to the 2022 elections, his actions on the environmental front could now make or break him. The thought that Sunday’s elections were a blip on the radar and not a real political push for lasting social change would be a mistake and Macron seems to completely understand this.

With the success of the Citizen Convention on Climate, Macron says he hopes to launch other conventions on different topics. This trust in the people he is showing could mean re-election is closer than he thinks.