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Day: 9 June 2025

Monaco and France sign enhanced charter for sustainable Mediterranean cruising

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
09/06/2025

Monaco and France have strengthened their environmental partnership by signing an enhanced version of the Sustainable Mediterranean Cruise Charter. The signing symbolically took place during the opening ceremony of the Blue Economy and Finance Forum on 7th June.

The agreement was signed by Céline Caron-Dagioni, Monaco’s Minister for Equipment, Environment and Urban Planning, and Philippe Tabarot, France’s Transport Minister, at the Grimaldi Forum.

The enhanced charter includes four key commitments that build upon the 2022 convention previously signed between the two nations. These include clear commitments to reduce air pollution in four Mediterranean ports and to install electric charging stations at the docks. They also involve slowing ships down when whales and dolphins are nearby, as well as improving coordination between ports to prevent pollution spikes and support the use of cleaner fuels and modern technology.

Finding the right balance

Minister Tabarot addressed the complex challenge of balancing economic benefits with environmental protection. He acknowledged the sometimes strained relationships between ports and cruise operators in recent years.  “For years, many of us wanted to see cruises come to our ports and bring economic benefits… and then, perhaps overnight, because visitor numbers weren’t limited or practices weren’t regulated, that warm welcome began to fade.”

Despite these difficulties, he reaffirmed France’s commitment to a more sustainable cruise model. He explained that he believes the right balance can be found between economic development and environmental protection, noting that economic benefits and ocean conservation are not incompatible goals.

Minister Caron-Dagioni also highlighted that environmental requirements in the Principality are not simply moral imperatives but represent regulatory reality. “In Monaco, environmental demands are not simply moral. It is a regulatory reality,” she stated, describing this as part of the historic commitment of Monaco’s principles that are shared from generation to generation.

“Let’s not forget that in Monaco, we used to be sailors. We lived from that, and this root is deeply anchored in the preservation of our primary environment, which is what the sea represents.” she added.

Signing the enhanced version of the Sustainable Mediterranean Cruise Charter during the Blue Economy and Finance Forum

A shared Mediterranean responsibility

Minister Caron-Dagioni stressed that environmental protection is not the affair of one person or country, but rather the responsibility of all. She noted that Monaco has already implemented a selective cruise policy compatible with air quality standards, quality of life, and climate objectives.

The signing follows the endorsement of the improved charter by major cruise operators in Marseille the previous day, with companies representing more than 50% of cruise operations already committed to the initiative. Minister Tabarot encouraged other operators to join what he described as a virtuous approach that combines environmental, economic, and dialogue-based elements.

The enhanced charter aims to drive the entire cruise sector towards higher environmental standards whilst maintaining the economic benefits of sustainable tourism. Minister Caron-Dagioni concluded that the charter should serve to “pull the entire sector upwards” and position the Mediterranean as an exemplary region for sustainable cruise operations. She explained that Monaco stands “alongside the companies to accompany them, to go further, to understand their problems and try to bring sustainable solutions with them”.

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.  

All photos by Monaco Life

 

Stina Ehrensvärd named EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 in landmark Monaco ceremony

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/06/2025

Swedish cybersecurity pioneer Stina Ehrensvärd has made history as the first winner from Sweden and only the fourth woman to be named EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year, as Monaco marked the 25th anniversary of the prestigious global award.

In a glittering ceremony held at the Salle des Etoiles on 6th June, Stina Ehrensvärd, co-founder and CEO of Yubico, was awarded the title of EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025. Selected from nearly 5,000 entrepreneurs spanning 43 countries and jurisdictions, Ehrensvärd’s victory marks a series of firsts: she is the inaugural Swedish recipient of the global prize and only the fourth woman to claim the honour in the award’s quarter-century history.

cybersecurity innovation wins global acclaim

Stina Ehrensvärd launched Yubico in 2007 with a mission to make the internet safer for everyone. Just one year later, the company introduced the YubiKey – a physical security key designed to revolutionise multifactor authentication. By 2012, Yubico had secured its place in the cybersecurity ecosystem by partnering with three of Silicon Valley’s biggest tech firms. Today, the company protects 19 of the world’s 20 largest internet companies and has maintained an impressive 40% compound annual growth rate since 2020.

Under Ehrensvärd’s leadership, Yubico has become a global force in online identity protection. Her work has advanced internet safety standards and elevated cybersecurity as a public good, with the YubiKey becoming an industry benchmark. Speaking from Monaco, she described the award not as a culmination, but a catalyst: “This recognition isn’t the finish line. It’s fuel. We are building a safer digital world, and I won’t stop until that mission is fulfilled.”

Monaco celebrates 25 years of global entrepreneurial excellence

This year’s EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year award ceremony also marked the 25th anniversary of the competition, which annually draws together founders, CEOs and business innovators from around the globe. The 2025 judging panel, chaired by Venture Worx CEO Asif Ramji, assessed finalists on four pillars: entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact. Stina Ehrensvärd stood out as a visionary force who has translated a fundamental belief — that secure digital identity is a human right — into transformative business practice.

Janet Truncale, EY Global Chair and CEO, praised Ehrensvärd as a leader of rare calibre: “Her achievements at Yubico are remarkable on their own – consistently creating new value and making a societal impact – but Stina’s story goes much deeper. Her defining philosophy that a secure digital identity is a basic human right is exactly the type of purpose-driven leadership we look to celebrate.”

Monaco remains a magnet for global innovation

Monaco’s role as host of the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year celebration continues to position the Principality as a centre for global business and thought leadership. The annual event not only honours individual achievement but serves as a platform for international dialogue on the future of entrepreneurship in a rapidly changing world. Ehrensvärd’s win is a reflection of that ethos: visionary, globally relevant, and deeply committed to social impact.

Stina Ehrensvärd now joins an elite group of EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni who have helped shape industries, communities, and the world at large. Her story resonates not only for its business success, but for the powerful idea that underpins it — that technology can, and must, be a force for good.

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: Stina Ehrensvärd, EY WEOY 2025 winner, with Janet Truncale, EY Global Chair and CEO. 

Blue Economy Forum in Monaco draws global powerhouses to fight for the oceans

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
09/06/2025

Prince Albert II of Monaco, Prince William of Wales, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves Robles joined forces at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum on the weekend, calling for urgent action to protect the world’s oceans and promote sustainable economy.

Held at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco and attended by Monaco Life, the two-day event brought together a powerful coalition of leaders, environmental experts, scientists, business innovators, and representatives. The forum served as a key lead-up to the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice this week.

Chaired by Pascal Lamy, former WTO Director-General, and Ilana Sed, UN representative from Palau, the gathering focused on concrete solutions for ocean conservation and sustainable maritime development.

Prince Albert II expressed cautious optimism about the outcome from the discussions in his opening speech. “As someone committed to defending the environment, occasionally positive momentum does occur. And what we have witnessed here in Monaco is precisely that,” he said. The Prince noted that solutions already exist across multiple sectors, from sustainable fisheries management to marine biotechnology, stating that “we are standing at the threshold of this blue transition”.

Scientific financing becomes imperative

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the scientific imperative for action, firmly rejecting the notion that climate change and ocean degradation are matters of opinion. “This is not an opinion, but scientifically established. We have a political, ethical, and scientific duty to continue financing free and open science,” he said.

The French President outlined the harsh reality that oceans face, explaining that due to global warming, sea levels are set to rise by over one metre in the worst-case scenarios. “We know that changes are dramatic at this point,” he warned, highlighting the particular vulnerability of coastal states, islands, and cities. He announced however that France would strengthen its maritime protection targets, building on the country’s position as the world’s second-largest maritime power thanks to its overseas territories.

The appearance of the Prince of Wales at the Blue Economy Forum brought a spotlight to the UK’s role in ocean innovation. Representing the United Kingdom, Prince William spoke passionately about the power of innovation to drive environmental change, drawing on his personal work through the Earthshot Prize. He shared success stories from prize finalists, including groundbreaking coral restoration efforts that have cultivated over 20,000 corals, and algae-based omega-3 production technologies that have already spared more than 2.5 million wild fish in just six months.

“Put simply, the ocean is under enormous pressure,” the Prince said, calling for scaling up of innovative solutions. He noted that whilst brilliant minds are developing inspiring solutions, “they cannot do it alone. They need scaling, support and investment to reach their potential.”

Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves Robles and Prince William of Whales discussing at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum. Photo credit: Kyriaki Topalidou, Monaco Life.

Leading by example

Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves Robles delivered an impassioned call for immediate action, mentioning his small nation’s leadership an an example. Despite representing just 0.03% of the world’s land area, Costa Rica holds nearly 6% of global biodiversity and has already achieved the 2030 target of protecting 30% of its marine territory well in advance.

“We are not saying it could be done. We are not saying it should be done. Costa Rica is doing it, putting our actions where our mouth is,” President Chaves declared. He stressed that “vision without action is just hallucination or demagoguery” and called for reformed financing criteria that don’t penalise middle-income countries that have succeeded in conservation efforts.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva brought a developing world perspective to the discussions. He also highlighted the economic significance of the ocean whilst calling for greater international financial commitment. “The ocean generates two trillion and 600 billion dollars annually. If it were a country, the ocean would occupy the fifth position among the world’s largest economies,” Lula observed.

The Brazilian leader highlighted the chronic underfunding of marine conservation initiatives, noting that the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14, dedicated to marine resource conservation, “is among the least funded objectives of the entire 2030 agenda”. He called for what he termed a ‘mutirão’ – an indigenous Brazilian word meaning collective effort – to increase financial commitments to ocean protection.

Collaboration is key

The forum addressed multiple aspects of the blue economy, from sustainable fisheries and marine biotechnology to renewable energy and tourism. Prince Albert II explained that concrete solutions already exist across all these sectors, stressing that “this is no longer just about innovation, although it still plays a key role. This is about practical, operational, and profitable opportunities.”

The Prince of Monaco concluded by highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships and international alliances, noting that “we will need all the goodwill and all the talent available” to address evolving ocean challenges. He called for building bridges between countries, coastal communities, scientists, and economic players to bring the sustainable blue economy to life.

Monaco Life was there! See more in Kyriaki Topalidou’s video below…

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.  

Main photo credit: Kyriaki Topalidou, Monaco Life. From left to right: Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, French President Emmanuel Macron, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves Robles and Prince William of Whales.

Young photographers showcase Monaco’s architectural heritage

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
09/06/2025

A captivating photography exhibition featuring the work of young talents aged 11 to 25 has opened at the Saint-Martin Gardens, offering fresh perspectives on Monaco’s built heritage.

The ‘Architectural Heritage of Monaco’ photography competition exhibition was officially inaugurated on Thursday 5th June, transforming the railings of the Saint-Martin Gardens into an outdoor gallery that will remain on display until 5th October.

Organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs, the competition was launched to encourage artistic practice amongst young people. Meanwhile, it contributes to the preservation of Monaco’s architectural legacy. The initiative has successfully engaged the Principality’s youth in celebrating their built environment through the lens of photography.

An expert jury carefully selected 15 photographs from the submissions to feature in the exhibition. The distinguished panel included Françoise Gamerdinger, Director of Cultural Affairs; heritage expert Stéphane Bern; Jean-Philippe Vinci, Director of DENJS; Björn Dahlström, Director of the New National Museum of Monaco; Célia Bernasconi, Chief Curator of the New National Museum of Monaco and President of the Heritage Council; and renowned photographer, director and writer Nick Danziger.

Photos captured by the young talents of Monaco, depicting Monaco's architectural heritage
Photos captured by the young talents of Monaco, depicting Monaco’s architectural heritage

Celebrating young talent

Four standout photographers emerged as winners from this selection: Adrian Blanchi, Andrea Brezzo, Léonie Massa, and Jeanna Grogorian. A youth jury comprised of students from the Principality—including Lily Coheur, Carla Giraldi, Joeline Kalbfleisch, Lou Nardi, and Gabriela Nencheva—chose the winners.

The Department of Cultural Affairs, with support from SOGEDA Monaco, has also rewarded all 15 featured photographers with a special masterclass led by Nick Danziger. This professional development opportunity aims to help the young artists refine their photographic skills and artistic practice.

The timing of the exhibition’s conclusion is particularly significant. It coincides with the European Heritage Days on 5th October, which will focus on the theme of Architectural Heritage.

However, the journey for these young photographers’ work does not end here. Monaco will take the exhibition to Strasbourg in 2026 as part of its presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

See more in our video reel below…

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.  

All photos by Monaco Life

Brigitte Macron joins Princess Charlene to champion lifesaving skills in the Principality

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/06/2025

On the final morning of the French State Visit to Monaco, First Ladies Brigitte Macron and Princess Charlene brought the focus to youth, prevention and lifesaving skills in a hands-on event at Stade Louis II.

As diplomatic fanfare wound down, a quieter yet no less meaningful chapter of the French State Visit unfolded on Sunday 8th June, when Princess Charlène of Monaco welcomed France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, to the poolside of Stade Louis II. The occasion was Water Safety Day — the flagship event of the Princess Charlène Foundation — and it offered a moment of unity rooted not in protocol, but in purpose.

Princess Charlene and Brigitte Macron at Water Safety Day held at the Stade Louis II swimming complex. Photo credit: Michael Alesi / Palais princier

Children, courage and a cause with urgency

For over a decade, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation has worked to prevent drowning and promote aquatic safety education for children around the world. This year’s Water Safety Day brought together 100 schoolchildren, aged 7 to 12, for a morning of interactive workshops ranging from CPR instruction to safe swimming relays and rescue obstacle courses. The event was led by freediving champion Pierre Frolla and supported by the Monégasque Academy of the Sea, the Red Cross, and several national education and sports bodies.

Princess Charlène, deeply committed to the cause through personal experience and advocacy, said: “I thank Madame Brigitte Macron with all my heart for being with us today. Her kindness and attention to the children give even more strength to the message we carry. Learning to swim is learning to survive. It is a right for every child, and a responsibility we share.”

The event was led by freediving champion Pierre Frolla (far right), with Princess Charlene and First Lady Brigitte Macron looking on intently

First ladies unite around education and solidarity

Brigitte Macron’s presence at the poolside event underscored the shared priorities between France and Monaco when it comes to youth protection and public education. Far from the formal settings of the previous day’s state ceremonies, this encounter between the two First Ladies was marked by genuine warmth and attentiveness. Her participation also reflected the French government’s own commitment to water safety initiatives — a link further strengthened by the foundation’s active programmes in both nations.

The event capped off a weekend that saw Monaco take centre stage on issues from climate diplomacy to European cooperation. Yet it was here, among the splashes and cheers of children learning to save lives, that the values of partnership, compassion and practical action were most tangibly on display.

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.

Photos credit: Michael Alesi / Palais princier