Day: 23 December 2020

As part of the fight against Covid-19, Monaco will apply a 0% VAT charge on screening tests and vaccines until the end of 2022. It will also be backdated to mid-October.
The government announced on Wednesday that it would be following France’s lead and removing the VAT (Value Added Tax) charge on PCR and antigen tests, antibody detection tests, as well as all types of vaccines against Covid-19 that will hit the market after validation by the European Medicines Agency.
This measure will apply until 31st December 2022
“Given the current health emergency, an administrative pardon allows the immediate application of this plan, pending publication of the corresponding Sovereign Ordinance,” said the government in a statement. “It therefore concerns all transactions that have taken place from 15^th October 2020.”
It follows a new rule adopted recently by the EU Commission, allowing EU countries to put in place a temporary VAT exemption for vaccines and testing kits being sold to hospitals, doctors and individuals, as well as closely related services.
Previously, member states could apply reduced VAT rates on sales of vaccines but could not apply a zero rate, while testing kits could not benefit from reduced rates. Under the amended Directive, member states are able to apply either reduced or zero rates to both vaccines and testing kits if they so choose.
 
 
 

The Municipal Council has been busy handing out all of the donations collected in the Principality for the victims of October’s storm Alex, as well as its own significant contributions.
Following the devastation caused by storm Alex in October, Monaco’s Municipal Council wanted to join in the great outpouring of solidarity for the municipalities and residents of the Roya valley by providing support – logistically with the donation of vehicles and equipment, as well as financial. They also organised collections in the Principality.
Foodstuffs and financial donations
From the first hours after storm Alex, the council provided financial support by making two donations to help rebuild the infrastructure in the valleys: one to the Department of the Alpes-Maritimes (20,000€), the other in the municipality of Limone Piemonte (2,500€).
A few days later, elected officials mobilised municipal teams and a food and hygiene product collection was set up on 8^th and 9^th October at Espace Léo Ferré. More than two tons of goods were collected and transported to the valleys by the Light Relief Intervention Unit (ULIS). This solidarity continued with a large donation of equipment, stored until now in the workshops of the Municipal Technical Services, which will soon be assigned to different municipalities: 300 tables, 390 folding chairs as well as a desk given to the Mayor of Fontan.
Vehicle donations for the municipalities of Roya
On 11^th December, Mayor Georges Marsan, Marjorie Crovetto, Karyn Ardisson Salopek and Claude Bollati went to Breil-sur-Roya to meet the mayors of the various municipalities hit hard by storm Alex. They handed over six vehicles previously belonging to the municipal fleet: a Mercedes flatbed truck with hatchback, a Toyota Yaris and four Kymco 125cc scooters.
A Christmas for the children
On Tuesday 15th December, Mayor Georges Marsan and Marjorie Crovetto went to Menton to hand over 1,260 children’s books collected from 24^th to 26^th November at the Condamine Market as well as at Stars’n’Bars as part of the European Waste Reduction Week (SERD) in collaboration with the Monaco Développement association Durable (MC2D).
These books were given to children aged 0 to 14 in the towns of Tende, La Brigue, Breil-sur-Roya, Fontan and Saorge on 19^th and 20^th December as part of the operation ‘Christmas for the children of Roya’.
The initiative has received the support of Prince Albert II and Minister of State Pierre Dartout.
Christmas baskets for seniors
A few days later, on 17^th December, the council brought a little comfort and warmth to end of year celebrations with the delivery of 400 Christmas baskets containing a complete meal seniors and isolated people from different towns in the Roya valley.
The car
A Renault Trafic – offered by the Monaco City Hall on 5^th November to the Semeurs d’Espoir association, was used to collect donations made by the citizens of Monaco and transport them to the valleys of the Vésubie (Saint-Martin Vésubie) and Roya (Breil-sur-Roya).
 
Photo by the Mairie de Monaco
 
 

Frankie’s Christmas is usually a much-anticipated event for the two thousand sick or underprivileged children normally invited, and though the charity was forced to cancel most of its December events, they still managed to deliver some Christmas cheer.

This year, nothing is “normal”. But despite that, the Monegasque association Les Enfants de Frankie still distributed nearly a thousand gifts to children in need of a bright spot during the holidays.

On 16^th December, the volunteers of the association took to the streets delivering gifts to the homes and institutions of needy kids between Menton and Cannes. Though not the usual party they have given in the past, the effort brightened the day of children who may have few other reasons to smile.

As an additional bonus for young people being treated at the Frejus Hospital, Les Enfants de Frankie is paying for a new minibus with a price tag of roughly €26,000. The young people being cared for in this hospital’s Arobase Care unit suffer from illnesses such as anorexia, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, bulimia, addictions and anxiety.

Those treating these youngsters have seen a rise in admittance and have found that group projects with outdoor experiences have been quite beneficial in the process of resocialisation, but until now, they have been without reliable transport, severely limiting what they can do to help the children.

Delivery of the new bus is scheduled for February 2021 and will be emblazoned with Frankie’s signature clown, allowing more frequent outings. The hope is that more positive mental health will emerge from the chance to spend time in nature.

Founded in 1997, Les Enfants de Frankie has been helping sick, disabled or underprivileged kids in Monaco and the surrounding region. Since inception, over 122,000 children have been touched by their help.

Under normal circumstances, the Monaco-based association organises fun days, workshops holiday camps and sporting events, as well as distributing food, clothes, toys school supplies and computer equipment to disadvantaged families.

 
Photo source: Enfants de Frankie