12 ° C
Profile

Day: 25 January 2022

2021 property report: market rebounds but still down

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/01/2022

Monte-Carlo overtook Larvotto as the most expensive district to buy property in Monaco last year, at €60,000sqm. The annual property report also shows that 417 resale apartments fetched just over €2 billion.

According to the latest report by Monaco’s statistical agency IMSEE released on Tuesday, the real estate market in 2021 saw a rebound on the previous year, with 29 more transactions and €160 million more in sales.

Sales volume, however, remained down by 5%, whilst sales value was down 17% compared to pre-Covid levels.

The number of new sales increased by 44% compared to 2020, though 2021 was still 30% below 2019 levels.

Nearly half the apartments sold last year were three room, signalling the first year since 2006 that so many dwellings of this size have been sold in the Principality. Studios were the next biggest sellers, but even those were way below the 2019 level. In all, 23 new apartments were sold, with a value of €235.6 million.

On the resale side, sales increased by 5.6% and exceeded the 400 transaction mark. With the exception of four room apartments, which saw a drop of 9.8%, every other size of apartment saw an increase, with almost 80% of resales being three rooms or less. In total, 417 resale apartments were sold, valued at just over €2 billion.

The 2021 price per square metre rebounded, and for the first time exceeded the symbolic threshold of €50,000, hitting nearly €52,000. The 10-year increase is an incredible 75%, making Monaco real estate a safe bet.

When breaking down prices per neighbourhood, the water gets a bit murky. For example, in Monaco-Ville in 2021 there were no transactions whose surface area was known, and therefore it was not possible to calculate pricing per square metre.

Larvotto, traditionally the most expensive district, was overtaken by Monte-Carlo, where apartments sold for nearly €60,000 per square metre, while Fontvieille saw prices hovering just behind at €58,000 per square metre.

For those hunting for deals, the Jardin Exotique area had the lowest price per square metre at €35,460.

 

 

Photo by Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life

 

 

Prince’s photo competition returns for 2nd edition

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/01/2022

The Prince Albert II Foundation Environmental Photography Award contest is back and inviting photographers to reflect on the human relationship with nature as well as on the link between human and planetary health.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Prince Albert II Foundation in 2021, a photo contest was launched and the response was nothing short of astounding. More than 5,700 images were submitted, resulting in an exhibition that has travelled from Monaco to Rome and is continuing its journey into this year.

Now for 2022, professional and amateur photographers are being called on to put forward their most splendid nature photos for the 2nd edition of the Environmental Photography Award.

Entries will be accepted until 20th March and this year there are five categories to choose from, including Polar Wonders, Beneath the Canopy, Life Under the Surface, Humanity Versus Nature, and Toward a Sustainable Future.

The contest, a collective effort put on by the Prince Albert II Foundation, Barclays Private Bank and SEK International University, is a way for creative talent to put their skills to good use by raising environmental protection awareness.

The best of the best will be presented at an exhibition that will start in the Principality and be exported to cities around the globe. Additionally, the shots will be elegantly portrayed in a book which will be distributed to the Foundation’s partners and benefactors.

The jury is made up of professional photographers and include President of the Jury Daisy Gilardini, Ragnar Axelsson, Laurent Ballesta, Nick Danziger, Frederick Dharshie Wissah, Sergio Pitamitz, Kathleen Ricker, and Ami Vitale.

The grand prize will go to the PA2F Environmental Photographer of the Year 2022 and will include a €5,000 grant, an expenses paid invite to visit the Amazon Research Station of the University of Ecuador to do a photo documentary in the heart of the Ecuadorian jungle, and invitation to the 2022 award exhibit in Monaco and public relations support from the Foundation via its numerous communications channels.

Each of the five category winners will receive a €1,000 grant and public relations support equal to that of the grand prize winner.

Additionally, there will be a Public Award, which is selected by the world community from the shortlisted photographs, giving the winner a €1,000 grant.  

Last year’s winner was 2022 jurist Kathleen Ricker, whose incredible image of a young male gorilla in Uganda stole the show.

The Prince Albert II Foundation has been vocally advocating the protection of the environment for over a decade and a half and has become a well-regarded NGO touting sustainable development education and nature preservation. The foundation has contributed to nearly 700 projects whose focus has been climate change, biodiversity and water in three priority areas: the Mediterranean basin, the Polar regions and in the world’s least development countries.

Entry is free by going to the website and registering at https://www.photocrowd.com/photo-competitions/photography-awards/pa2faward-2022/#section-1893

 

 

Photo of 2021 winner by Kathleen Ricker 

 

 

 

Princess Stephanie’s Cirque FC win Fight Aids Cup

by: Luke Entwistle
25/01/2022

Stars of sport, both past and present, put on a brilliant sporting spectacle at the Stade Louis II on Monday to raise money in the fight against HIV.

Former Italian World Cup winning striker Luca Toni was the star of the show, his brace enough to give Princess Stephanie’s side the victory against the Barbagiuans of Prince Albert II.

After an extravagant entrance that involved the Monaco circus, proceedings were kicked off by Princess Stephanie and Prince Albert II, with a short pass within the centre circle marking the start of the match.

Both sides had chances to open the scoring in the first-half, as each team rattled the woodwork. Highly decorated midfielder Clarence Seedorf rolled back the years with some neat footwork and an impressive range of passing in the Cirque midfield, creating a flurry of opportunities, none of which were converted.

The Cirque band serenaded spectators with a jazzy half-time set-list, belting out the well-known pop anthems Happy and Despacito.

The second-half was a livelier affair. Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc made his entrance mid-way through the half, but didn’t quite have the touch to break the deadlock.

It was Cirque who opened the scoring in the sort of comical fashion that wouldn’t have looked out of place in an actual circus. Toni, more of an accessory than an instigator of the goal, couldn’t believe it when the ball struck his back and rolled over the line following an attempted goalkeeper clearance.

Toni doubled up soon after, this time with a smashing drive from outside the box that left the keeper with no chance. A late consolation from the Barbagiuans wasn’t enough to prevent Princess Stephanie’s side from raising the trophy at 2-1.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expressed his disappointment at having managed the losing team after full-time. “It’s difficult to have lost the match that we had under our control in the first half.”

Leclerc reminded us of the raison d’etre of this important match, saying to the press after the game, “It was a great match, and it’s for a good cause. We have to continue to fight against this virus, and at the same time we had a lot of fun, even if I’m bad at football!”

The Ferrari driver also told Monaco Life that the event was good for his preparation going into the new season. “The match plays a part in my programme. I have plenty of things on the go. I’m not only doing this, but for sure it compliments it nicely.”

The event brought together elite-level names from the world of football and beyond for an exciting footballing festival for all who attended, whilst continuing to raise awareness and funds in the fight against HIV.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZMJHHPsylk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

Photo by Monaco Life

 

 

 

Public safety figures for 2021

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/01/2022

As Monaco’s Public Safety Department marks its 120th anniversary, the force has released crime figures for 2021, showing that Monaco’s ‘Safe city’ image has been well maintained in 2021.

Created by Prince Albert I in 1902, the Public Safety Department has been a staple of Monegasque society, protecting and looking out for the people of the country for 120 years.

After recognising the significance of the anniversary, Police Commissioner Richard Marangoni presented the crime figures for 2021 on Monday at the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier, noting that general crime has remained stable, going from 712 cases in 2020 to 716 cases in 2021. Most types of crime were down over the previous year, with two exceptions. Car theft was up 400% from zero cases to four, and pickpocketing was up 100% to two cases over one in 2020.

As for other types of crime, theft of vehicles with two wheels was up significantly at 71%, drug offences were down by 21% as was driving under the influence, which saw a 22% drop. Additionally, public drunkenness was down by 8% and traffic accidents fell by 10%.

Between the years 2016 and 2021, general crime in Monaco fell by 32% and street crime by 74%.

Police had given around 60,000 verbal warning stops in 2021, mainly for not wearing masks correctly or not at all, while 9,127 fines were handed out.

The maritime police were also busy in 2021, taking part in 11 sea rescue operations and carrying out 21,000 Covid health checks on boats. The management office handled more than 40,000 letters and received more than 9,000 emergency calls.

The conference also revealed big developments on several fronts including the ongoing digitisation of residence cards, 4,924 of which were issued last year, the reorganisation of the judicial police, and how crime prevention through deterrence is the way forward, giving Monaco a ‘Safe City’ moniker.

Training will be emphasised in 2022, with crisis management at top of the agenda. The scientific branch will benefit from a new scanner and biometrics terminal and the maritime police will be getting a new boat. Additionally, increased efforts against cybercrime, financial crime and protection of the vulnerable will be priorities.

The new police headquarters were also spoken of, with an expected completion date in 2023. Finally, there will be an increase in civil servants on the force planned for 2025.

 

 

Photo by Marc de Jong on Unsplash

 

 

“Violence can settle insidiously in a home”

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/01/2022

The latest study on violence against women in Monaco has shown a decrease in incidents reported in 2021, however the minister for women’s rights says that the crime remains a “constant battle because it can settle insidiously in a home”.

The Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights and IMSEE, Monaco’s statistical agency, published the 2021 study on ‘Violence against women in Monaco’ on Monday 24th January. It is the third study of its kind in the Principality.

Various indicators from a variety of reference sources are used to compile the report, including the Department of Public Security, the Department of Judicial Services, Princess Grace Hospital Centre, the Department of Social Action and Assistance (DASO), and the Association for Assistance to Victims of Criminal Offenses (AVIP).

“This study makes it possible to follow the evolution over time of violence committed against women in Monaco,” said Céline Cottalorda, Interministerial Delegate for Women’s Rights. “We’ve seen a general drop in the acts of violence declared in 2021 to each entity.

“This decrease can be partly explained by the continuation of the health crisis which still impacts the movements and the life of the population. The Committee recalls that violence against women remains a constant battle because it can settle insidiously in a home. This is also the subject of the last awareness campaign that we sent out in November.”

The findings show that 23 violent acts against women were reported to the police in 2021, versus 39 in 2020. In 60% of cases, the violence was physical and in 12%, sexual abuse was involved. 74% of the victims were Monaco residents and the average age of the woman was 41, whilst the average age of the perpetrator was 46. Over a quarter of the incidents occurred at home and 57% were committed by a partner or former partner.

Meanwhile, 38 cases were taken to court, down from 50 the previous year, including 11 for acts committed in 2021. Two convictions were made and two cases were dismissed.

The report shows that the Princess Grace Hospital Centre admitted 41 female victims of violence, with 44% being physical. This is also down from 2020 when the number was 53.

The Association for Assistance to Victims of Criminal Offenses (AVIP) received 36 women over the course of 2021, compared with 42 in 2020, while DASO dealth with 13 cases of violence last year.

At AVIP, 78% of the women were Monaco residents and the average age of the victim was 44, with 58% of the violent acts being committed by a partner or former partner. Interestingly, 19% of AVIP’s cases were for physical abuse, but the majority, 29% of cases, were psychological abuse, then harassment at 22%, and sexual abuse at 6%.

Whilst the figures are relevant, Director of IMSEE Alexandre Bubbio says they are not necessarily cumulative. “The same female victim may have been counted several times, for example if she declared more of a case of violence during the year or if she has presented herself to different services accounting for the acts of violence. The results presented must not be added together and are understood entity by entity.”

 

 

Photo by Yoann Boyer on Unsplash