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Day: 6 May 2022

New exit ramp on track for 2023 opening

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/05/2022

Work is progressing well on the new A8 exit ramp that will hopefully make life easier for the thousands of commuters who travel to Monaco for work every day – and others who get caught up in the traffic jams.

A year after work began, National Council President Stéphane Valeri visited the site alongside Alpes-Maritimes politician Eric Ciotti, at the invitation of Mayor of La Turbie Jean-Jacques Raffaele.

The purpose of the visit was to take stock of the progress of this strategic project, co-financed by the Monegasque State, the Alpes-Maritimes Departmental Council, the Agglomeration Community of the French Riviera and the Escota-VINCI Autoroutes network.

From the 1st quarter of 2023, the new A8 ramp will provide additional access to the Principality for the 47,000 commuter employees driving daily from France. The original delivery date was 2022.

With nearly 3,000 vehicles expected to use this new motorway exit, the opening of the slip road will improve access to Monaco, reduce the number of cars crossing La Turbie, and improve traffic flow on the A500 motorway in the Monaco tunnel.

Source: Vinci autoroutes

The €6 million project is part of an ambitious overall policy to improve mobility between the Alpes-Maritimes department and the Principality of Monaco, supporting the employment and economic opportunities of both countries while improving the quality of life of border residents.

The Principality is also financially contributing to the improvement of the rail network and partial subsidies for train journeys, as well as the 100 Nice-Menton bus line.

Following the site visit, Stéphane Valeri and Eric Ciotti met at National Council headquarters to discuss other issues including housing for French workers around the Principality, the future Monegasque waste sorting and recovery facility, and progress on the reconstruction of the valleys affected by storm Alex, to which Monaco has financially contributed.

 

Photo of Eric Ciotti, Stéphane Valeri and Jean-Jacques Raffaele, source: National Council of Monaco

 

 

 

Funds sought for local animal shelter

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/05/2022

Monaco’s animal protection association Save, Protect, Support Animals (SpSA) is in need of a cash injection if it is to continue its work saving vulnerable, abused and abandoned animals. Here’s how you can help this important local association.

SpSA is a Monaco-based association whose mission is to find, protect and often save the lives of abused and abandoned animals. But with over €7,500 in unpaid vet bills, the association is facing potential disaster.

The volunteer organisation has therefore put out a call for people to donate to their cause to allow them to continue to help the helpless.

“Veterinary care is our main item of expenditure. In 2021 alone, this represented €22,000,” the SpSA’s Celine Gabrielli told Monaco Matin. “The more we are known, the more animals we take care of, the more the bills accumulate. We have emergency calls for rescues, we have abandoned, injured animals that we have to treat before finding them a foster family. We also have what are called retirement baskets.”

SpSA covers veterinary costs for all animals in their care and they never refuse to give treatment to an animal in need.

 “We came to the aid of an abandoned cat who was having litter after litter. During a difficult delivery, I had to take out the last kitten myself. Alone in nature, she would not have survived, nor would the little ones,” said Melyna, secretary of the association. “There were also eight kittens suffering from coryza and ringworm. They were placed in solitary confinement and treated for six weeks. They have since been adopted. We also took in Bambi, a dog whose owner died in her apartment. He was an unhappy dog, who had never known anything but the inside of a flat. He had double hip dysplasia. We took charge of the operation, which was expensive.”

The organisation is aiming to receive government subsidies, but this route is proving slow, and in the meantime, volunteer members are using their own personal funds to keep the association afloat. Since their first call for donations, the amount raised has come to €2,350, not nearly enough to cover the unpaid bills that are mounting. They now are running the risk of vets refusing treatment due to lack of payment.

In addition to funds, the SpSA is also asking for host families who would be willing to temporarily accommodate and care for animals whilst they wait to be adopted by their “forever family”. Spring is a particularly busy time for the association as kittens are being born in this period, making for a huge rise in the number of animals in need.

Foster families must meet some criteria before being allowed to take home an animal, such as having space to keep them separated from other animals in the house whilst they adjust, a secure balcony or terrace if the space has one, and the willingness and ability to purchase food. Vet costs are not the responsibility of the foster parents.

For those who wish to donate, there are three paths:

– Via Paypal at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=JP4KH4BDMTQV8&fbclid=IwAR26P1AD2e74p1Dq9HYKz2LhVATDUU7lZ2L1_F8MvXjYy1D9ShcAlJlM2YA

– by credit card on www.apayer.fr/spsa1

– by check to SpSA – 49 Rue Plati – 98000 MONACO

 

 

 

Monaco makes another move towards equality for women

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/05/2022
national council votes on amendments to law favouring men over women

Monaco’s National Council has voted in a government bill to amend outdated provisions in the law that favour men over women.

A majority of 18 elected officials, with one abstention by Thomas Brezzo and no votes against, on Thursday 5th May supported a government bill which aims to strengthen the protection of women’s rights in the Principality of Monaco.

Government Services spent three years analysing nearly 12,000 legal and legislative texts to identify expressions that have become, over time, obsolete for legal, semantic or scientific reasons. In total, 85 provisions and texts are subject to modification or deletion.

“This updating of the legal provisions contributes to the construction of the edifice of women’s rights and to bringing the Principality into line with the evolution of society and, at the international level, in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations,” said Pierre Dartout, Minister of State. “I would like to salute the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights, which has made a dynamic contribution to updating the texts of Monegasque law.”

The amendments include things like changing the need for female elected officials to take on the masculine word for councillor, conseillers.

“While this text represents an essentially symbolic progress – it is certainly not the most fundamental text in the history of the evolution of women’s rights in our country – it is another step in the right direction,” said National Council President Stéphane Valeri in his speech to the assembly.

According to Councillor Nathalie Blanc-Amoratti, the amendments are an important step towards changing perceptions about women in society.

“The main objective is of course to change mentalities, and this requires education, awareness and pedagogy from an early age,” said Nathalie Blanc-Amoratti. “In our position as elected officials, we are working with determination to modernise and develop our legislation in accordance with changes in society. And when it comes to women’s rights, there is a lot to be done.”

Other major steps that the Principality has taken recently towards equal rights for women include the extension of maternity leave in 2019, the decriminalisation of abortion that same year, a reform in 2021 of the legal provisions that constitute sexual assault, and a resolution adopted in November 2020 aimed at increasing the representation of women on the boards of directors of public, associative and private entities.

The latest move by the National Council and the Government, under the leadership of Prince Albert II, was welcomed by Céline Cottalorda, Interministerial Delegate for Women’s Rights, who said, “I am very satisfied to see this text come to fruition because it constitutes additional progress for greater equality between the sexes and less discrimination against women.”

 

Photo source: National Council of Monaco

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAC members treated to lunch at the Pavyllon

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/05/2022

Monaco Ambassadors Club members are among the first to try the new Pavyllon restaurant by Yannick Alléno at the Hermitage Hotel, as the club ramps up its post-pandemic events schedule with new and exciting offers.  

The Monaco Ambassadors Club (MAC), under the high patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, has always hosted lavish gala events, including the Summer party, the Goodwill Ambassador Award Gala, and the Christmas party. They are an opportunity for members and guests to enjoy the best of Monaco with friends and like-minded people, while celebrating the club’s mission of promoting the values of Monaco throughout the world.

But MAC also has a new impetus – organising intimate lunches at Monaco’s hottest new restaurants.

The latest members’ lunch is taking place at the Pavyllon, the new restaurant by Yannick Alléno, holder of 13 Michelin stars, at the Hermitage Hotel.

On the terrace overlooking the Mediterranean, members have an opportunity to get to know each other, to network, and enjoy a fabulous Michelin star lunch.

It follows a similar lunch organised by MAC in April at the new Em Sherif at the Hôtel de Paris, a partnership with the Société des Bains de Mer that promotes a circular economy in the Principality.

“Over the past few weeks, connecting with members face-to-face in smaller groups has been a wonderful experience for all,” says MAC President Christian Moore. “It has given some members the chance to meet for the first time and for others to properly catch up on all that has been missed these past few years. Adjusting to the new normal is the priority of MAC moving forward.”

Through events such as these, MAC aims to provide its members with the opportunities to form worthwhile connections and enhance their personal and professional lives.

The club was formed over five decades ago at the request of Princess Grace, who wished to assemble Monaco’s diverse residents together and encourage them to promote the merits of the Principality and share their love for Monaco on the international stage.

The next event on the MAC schedule is the Goodwill Ambassador Award Gala evening on 11th June, when property tycoon John Christodoulou will receive the honourable title.

Monaco Life is proud to be the main media partner of the Monaco Ambassador’s Club.

Click on the gallery below to see more pictures…

 

Top photo left to right: Willy Gunti, MAC Club Manager Catherine Bernaz, Lorenzo Turco, Monaco Life Editor in Chief Cassandra Tanti, Alejandra Ruiz, Said Benhamed, Parissa Khorsand, and Amir-Reza Khorsand. All photos by Monaco Life.

 

SEE ALSO:

Yannick Alléno unveils Pavyllon Monte-Carlo

MAC members christen Em Sherif at networking lunch

 

 

 

Monaco contributes to Our Ocean pledge

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/05/2022

The 7th Our Ocean Conference took place on the Pacific island of Palau, ending with 410 commitments equalling $16.35 billion from participants including from Monaco.

Since 2014, the Our Ocean Conference has been striving to mobilise funds and commitments across six areas of action from partners who want to better manage marine resources, increase the resilience of the seas to climate change, and safeguard its health now and for the future.

The six areas are fairly encompassing and include advancing marine protected areas, tackling marine pollution, confronting the ocean-climate crisis, creating sustainable “blue economies”, advancing sustainable small-scale fishing and aquaculture, and achieving a safe, just and secure ocean.

The end result of this year’s conference was $16.35 billion in monetary commitments from 410 entities, including a substantial contribution from the Principality. Since inception, the event has seen 1,800 commitments given totalling $108 billion.

Céline Caron-Dagioni, Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urban Planning, accompanied by Tidiani Couma, Secretary for External Relations within the Department of External Relations and Cooperation, travelled to Koror, Palau to represent Prince Albert II at the event on 13th and 14th April.

The Our Ocean Conference was initiated by John Kerry in 2014 when he was US Secretary of State. He is still heavily involved in his new role as President Joe Biden’s Special Envoy for the Climate.

 

 

Photo by Drec