Major traffic restrictions in Monaco this weekend for Blue Economy Forum and French presidential visit

Monaco is bracing for a weekend of widespread traffic disruptions as the Principality hosts two major events: the Blue Economy and Finance Forum and the official State Visit of French President Emmanuel Macron. Both events will take place on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June, prompting authorities to implement significant circulation measures affecting vehicles, pedestrians and public transport.

The Blue Economy and Finance Forum will be held at the Grimaldi Forum, bringing together international leaders and environmental stakeholders to discuss sustainable maritime development. At the same time, President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in Monaco for a landmark State Visit, marking the first visit of its kind by a French president in over four decades. This high-level diplomatic engagement with Prince Albert II is expected to involve formal ceremonies and heightened security across key areas of the city.

On both days, Avenue Princesse Grace will be closed in both directions between the Portier roundabout and the Rose des Vents roundabout, from 6am to 8pm on Saturday and 6am to 5pm on Sunday. Access during this period will only be permitted for residents of Ruelle Saint Jean and those living in the buildings Émilie Palace, La Réserve, Houston Palace and Columbia Palace, who will be able to enter exclusively via the Rose des Vents.

Further road closures and traffic interruptions are expected throughout the weekend across Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo and Larvotto, depending on the movements of official delegations. Authorities also warn of likely congestion for vehicles entering the Principality from the motorway tunnel and the Moyenne Corniche, particularly around the western entry points.

On Sunday 8th June, from 12:30pm to 4pm, Boulevard Louis II will be entirely closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic between the Portier roundabout and the Pattaya turnaround. Access to the Louis II and Monte-Carlo Star car parks will be strictly prohibited during this time. Pedestrian access on Avenue Princesse Grace, seaward side, will also be restricted to accredited individuals, who will be redirected to the upper pavement or Mareterra.

Public transport will see major adjustments, with bus lines 1 through 4 maintaining their normal service, while line 5 will terminate at Place des Moulins instead of continuing its usual route. Line 6 will be rerouted to Saint-Roman with return journeys following a modified path through the Boulevard des Moulins. The boat bus service will be suspended on both days of the forum and will resume operations on Monday 9th June.

Residents and visitors are advised to plan their movements accordingly and to allow extra time when travelling within the Principality. These measures may be subject to change based on police requirements and the evolving security situation.

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Photo credit: Monaco Life

 

What you need to know about the Monte-Carlo Television Festival 2025

64th edition of the Monte-Carlo Film Festival

The 64th Monte-Carlo Television Festival 2025 is set to welcome some of television’s biggest names to the Principality this June. Programme details reveal a compelling mix of Hollywood stars, beloved TV reunions, and exclusive premieres.

Running from 13th to 17th June at the Grimaldi Forum, this year’s festival promises to deliver the perfect blend of nostalgia and cutting-edge television. It is this perfect blend that has made it a must-attend event for industry professionals and fans alike.

Under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, the festival will kick off with a glamorous opening ceremony. This includes a formal presentation of the Golden Nymph Awards jury to the Prince himself.

The festival’s prestigious awards will recognise outstanding contributions to television. French acting legend Pierre Arditi will receive the ‘Crystal Nymph Award’ in recognition of his outstanding career. Meanwhile, at the opening ceremony, American actress Jazz Sinclair will accept the Golden Nymph for ‘Most Promising International Talent.

The evening concludes with the French premiere of CBS’s ‘Watson,’ featuring star Morris Chestnut and executive producer Craig Sweeny in attendance.

Nostalgic reunions 

One of the festival’s most anticipated events promises to transport fans straight back to Beacon Hills. Tyler Hoechlin, Tyler Posey, Holland Roden, and twins Charlie & Max Carver are reuniting on 14th June. The gathering will be accompanied by an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience featuring never-before-seen footage followed by an autograph session.

Teen Wolf cast will be present at this year’s festival

The nostalgic reunion, is expected to draw devoted fans from across Europe. Organisers predict it will be ‘a moment full of nostalgia, emotion, and laughter.’

French television will also take centre stage, with popular series like ‘Demain Nous Appartient’ and ‘Scènes de Ménages’ bringing their stars to Monaco for special fan events.

Gathering of International talent 

Legends from American soap operas such as ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ and ‘The Young and the Restless’ will also participate in exclusive crossover events.

Sean Dominic, Courtney Hope, Lawrence Saint-Victor, and Heather Tom will meet fans on 16th June celebrating these iconic soaps that have captivated audiences for decades.

Meanwhile, the Chicago franchise returns to Monaco, with stars from ‘Chicago Fire,’ ‘Chicago Med,’ and ‘Chicago P.D.’. Among the confirmed stars in attendance are Jocelyn Hudon, Benjamin Levy Aguilar, Darren Barnet, and Hanako Greensmith. Fans will be able to enjoy an exclusive autograph session from the impressive line-up.

The festival continues its tradition of showcasing global voices, with world premieres planned from South Africa, Canada, Germany, and Italy, highlighting diverse storytelling from across the international television landscape.

Two distinguished juries will judge the Golden Nymph Awards. . Acclaimed actress Judith Light will preside over the Fiction Jury, joined by notable members such as Rachel Griffiths and Sarah Rafferty. The later is best known for her iconic role in ‘Suits’.

The News and Documentaries Jury will be led by journalist and producer Mireille Dumas. Completing the distinguished panel is Ross Kemp, a BAFTA award-winning documentary maker.

The festival culminates with the prestigious Golden Nymph Awards ceremony on Tuesday 17 June in the Salle des Princes.

Originally created by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the festival has been bringing together the global television community for over six decades. This tradition will continue this year, while promising to offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience to the public.

The festival welcomes the public for free. However, attendees must reserve their spot for the Monte-Carlo Television Festival 2025 via this link: https://www.tvfestival.com/en/programme

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All photos sourced from the Monte-Carlo Film Festival’s official website

New ambassadors from Oman, Andorra, China and Lithuania welcomed to Monaco

Four newly appointed ambassadors were officially accredited on Tuesday 3rd June during a reception hosted at the Yacht Club de Monaco by Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

Earlier that morning, the ambassadors presented their Letters of Credence to Prince Albert II. The formalities were followed by a diplomatic luncheon, which offered an opportunity for open dialogue and reinforced Monaco’s commitment to fostering ties with diverse regions around the world.

The newly accredited ambassadors include Ahmed Mohamed Nasser Al Araimi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman and former adviser to the Gulf Cooperation Council in Brussels; Esther Rabasa Grau, Ambassador of the Principality of Andorra, who previously held postings in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg; Deng Li, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China and former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, having also served in Turkey; and Arnoldas Pranckevicius, Ambassador of Lithuania, who recently served as Permanent Representative to the European Union from 2022 to 2024.

Also in attendance were Monaco’s Ambassador to China, Marie-Pascale Boisson, the Honorary Consul of Oman, as well as representatives from the Monaco Economic Board and Monaco Private Label. Discussions centred on deepening the Principality’s bonds of friendship and cooperation with each of these nations.

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Photo from left to right: Arnoldas Pranckevicius, Ambassador of Lithuania; Ahmed Mohamed Nasser Al Araimi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman; Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Esther Rabasa Grau, Ambassador of the Principality of Andorra; and Deng Li, Ambassador of China. Credit: Stéphane Danna – Communication Department

Local kids invited to join water safety event with Princess Charlene and First Lady Brigitte Macron

A special Water Safety event will take place on Sunday, 8th June, as part of the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron to Monaco.

From 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Centre Nautique Albert II at Stade Louis II, organisers will host pool activities to raise awareness about drowning prevention and teach lifesaving techniques.

The event forms part of the Princess Charlène of Monaco Foundation’s Water Safety programme, which supports projects aimed at raising awareness of drowning prevention and teaching lifesaving to children and adults in all types of water environments.

To offer activities adapted to each environment, the Foundation relies on a network of local associations and national rescue societies.

The water safety activities, whether theoretical or practical, teach participants to learn and apply the prevention triptych: identify, alert, intervene.

In order to attend, children must bring their own swimsuits. Registration is also mandatory as spots are limited.

To register, call +377 98 98 99 99 or email contact@fpcm.mc

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Feature image sourced from the Princess Charlène of Monaco Foundation

CFM Indosuez champions the blue economy as Monaco hosts global forum

As Monaco prepares to welcome leading scientists and financial experts to the Blue Economy and Finance Forum this weekend, CFM Indosuez is stepping into the spotlight—not just as the event’s principal sponsor, but as one of its committed players in ocean sustainability. With two-thirds of its clients based in the Principality, the century-old bank is uniquely placed to reshape how wealth is used to protect our seas.

“In 2020, we started a partnership with the Oceanographic Institute with the goal of evaluating how financial players can contribute to the blue economy,” CFM Indosuez CEO Mathieu Ferragut told Monaco Life. “The blue economy is a broad concept that can be hard to define at times, but on our side, we consider it to be the economy surrounding seas, oceans, and coastal systems.”

“We often describe it as an economy that aims for growth while also embedding sustainability into its DNA. We were attracted to the idea of fostering economic growth while being sustainable, so we began collaborating with the Institute on various projects.”

From fisheries and aquaculture to biotechnology and maritime transport, CFM’s approach is wide-ranging. “We identified two ways to contribute: directly, by working with these sectors, and indirectly—by supporting innovation and startups and by raising awareness, which we do with the Oceanographic Institute. We’ve managed to build a bridge between their scientific expertise and our financial knowledge.”

Raising awareness, one investor at a time

CFM Indosuez is the oldest bank in the Principality, with a century of heritage and around 30% of its shareholders coming from local families. That local grounding informs much of the bank’s purpose. “We aim to help people become more familiar with the challenges facing our oceans and how we can develop more efficiently,” says Ferragut.

Together with its wealth management arm Indosuez, the bank is also the lead sponsor of the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, being held in Monaco on 7th and 8th June. “This serves both to show our commitment to the blue economy and to give us access to a broader ecosystem of experts—scientists, financial professionals, and organisations—so we can deepen our contributions in a practical way.”

CFM’s role extends beyond financing and investing. “Ultimately, they [clients] decide if they want to invest in related companies, but we aim to make them more aware,” he adds. “It’s not always easy, because the blue economy isn’t as visible as other parts of the sustainable economy that we’re more familiar with—like land-based projects.”

Financing change at every level

CFM Indosuez has played an active role in supporting the blue economy, financing infrastructure projects like the expansion of Monaco’s seawater heating and cooling systems, while also investing in research and education through initiatives such as the Oceanographic Institute’s Polar Mission exhibition. But while the bank is committed to driving sustainable change, its ability to do so at scale depends largely on the interest and engagement of its clients.

According to CEO Mathieu Ferragut, that interest is far from uniform. “Around 20% are not interested at all. Some even actively reject it, thinking sustainability is a fad or politically driven narrative. Another 10–20% are extremely committed. These clients are guided by principles and sometimes make decisions that aren’t economically rational but are based on their values. The remaining 50–60% are not fully aware. They’re unsure of the impact they can make or whether sustainable investment is worth it.”

What about returns? “Sometimes sustainable investments outperform, sometimes they don’t. It’s about making choices. You can’t always have everything—maximum impact and maximum performance at the same time.”

A unique bridge between science and capital

Regulatory challenges continue to affect impact measurement in the blue economy, says Ferragut, but CFM’s solution is a focused, transparent approach. “That’s why we’ve chosen to guide our clients toward very specific, clearly identified projects. Even if you can’t quantify the impact precisely, you know where your money is going.”

Ferragut offers a compelling example. “We support a project with the Scientific Centre of Monaco called the Coral Conservatory. Its goal is to identify coral species globally and preserve them in aquariums so they can be reproduced and reintroduced if they disappear. When a client invests in this, they know exactly what their investment supports. It’s a very concrete example of impactful investment in the blue economy.”

CFM Indosuez’s partnerships with scientific institutions, particularly the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, demonstrate how financial players can move beyond rhetoric and into action—by enabling tangible projects and guiding clients toward more informed, impactful investment choices.

See also: 

Monaco launches Blue Economy Index

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Yannick Alléno’s campaign drives breakthrough as French Assembly backs new ‘homicide routier’ law

The tragic death of Antoine Alléno, son of celebrated French chef Yannick Alléno, has helped catalyse a landmark legal reform in France. On Tuesday 3rd June, the National Assembly approved — by a resounding 194 votes to six — a new criminal classification of homicide routier (vehicular homicide) in the French Penal Code, a direct response to repeated calls for harsher measures against reckless drivers responsible for fatal road accidents.

Multi-Michelin starred Chef Yannick Alléno, who helms Pavyllon Monte-Carlo and l’Abysse at the Hôtel Hermitage in Monaco, has been a prominent voice in the campaign for change, following the 2022 loss of his son to a repeat traffic offender under the influence. His advocacy, alongside mounting public pressure and bipartisan political will, helped move the law forward after delays caused by the dissolution of the Assembly earlier this year. Originally adopted in early 2024, the proposal had passed through the Senate before being disrupted in its legislative course. It has now returned to the spotlight with renewed political backing, including full government support.

The bill, introduced by Republican MP Eric Pauget and former Macronist Anne Brugnera, seeks to redefine how fatal road incidents are prosecuted, especially when aggravating factors such as alcohol or drug use, high-speed driving, or participation in urban rodeos (events involving riding and performing tricks with two-wheeled vehicles, usually motorbikes, scooters or dirt bikes) are present. “We are moving beyond the binary of ‘voluntary’ and ‘involuntary’,” said Pauget. “When someone chooses to drive under the influence or recklessly, calling it involuntary is unacceptable to the victims and their families.” The measure, he added, is not only legal but deeply symbolic, designed to better reflect the gravity of such crimes.

The core of the bill remains the creation of a specific offence of homicide routier, carrying a penalty of up to seven years in prison and a €100,000 fine. This replaces the current use of ‘involuntary homicide’ in cases of deadly road crashes without direct intent to kill. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin voiced strong support for the change, calling it a necessary end to France’s “judicial hypocrisy”, stating that the law provides a clear and dissuasive legal tool that reflects the public’s understanding: that these are not mere accidents, but crimes.

The Assembly also rejected several Senate modifications that had watered down the bill, including the removal of aggravating factors such as mobile phone use or psychoactive substances and a proposal to drop penalties like vehicle confiscation. Deputies opted instead to reinforce the original vision of the law. Though the sentencing framework remains unchanged, Horizons MP Béatrice Piron described the reform as “a vital symbolic shift”, while Socialist MP Hervé Saulignac stressed its importance in restoring public confidence in the judiciary.

Not everyone supported the measure. La France Insoumise was split, with Rodrigo Arenas arguing that the law was not requested by judges or lawyers and risked giving false hope to victims’ families. Still, the bill passed with wide support and now heads back to the Senate for a final reading.

In addition, the reform introduces new provisions targeting other dangerous behaviours, including a new offence for exceeding the speed limit by over 50 km/h. This infraction would be punishable by three months in prison and a €3,750 fine, plus complementary penalties such as licence revocation. In cases involving death or serious injury, the driver must also undergo a medical examination at their own expense within 72 hours to assess their fitness to drive.

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Photo credit: Clark Van Der Beken, Unplash