Monaco’s Minister of External Relations and Cooperation, Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, received five newly accredited ambassadors on Thursday 2nd April at a lunch held at the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo.
The diplomats represented Benin, Estonia, Kuwait, Norway and Hungary: Corinne Brunet, Ambassador of Benin; Viljar Lubi, Ambassador of Estonia; Abdullah Suleiman Alshaheen, Ambassador of Kuwait; Vegar Sundsbó Brynildsen, Ambassador of Norway; and Miklós Erik Tromler, Ambassador of Hungary.
The meeting was also attended by the Honorary Consul General of Norway, the Honorary Consuls of Estonia and Hungary, and representatives from the Monaco Economic Board and the Conseil Stratégique pour l’Attractivité.
Discussions covered the various aspects of the friendship and cooperation ties Monaco maintains with each of the five countries.
From left to right: Vegar Sundsbó Brynildsen, Ambassador of Norway; Corinne Brunet, Ambassador of Benin; Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of External Relations and Cooperation; Miklós Erik Tromler, Ambassador of Hungary; and Abdullah Suleiman Alshaheen, Ambassador of Kuwait. Not pictured: Viljar Lubi, Ambassador of Estonia. Credit: Stéphane Danna – Direction de la Communication.
SEA Index launches air quality certification for superyachts
The Superyacht Eco Association (SEA Index) has announced a new Air Quality Certification for superyachts, expanding its environmental assessment framework beyond carbon emissions to address the localised health impacts of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅).
Developed in collaboration with AtmoSud, the air quality observatory for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, the certification is the first dedicated benchmark for local air quality impact in the superyacht sector, according to a statement released on 10th March. It sits alongside the existing SEA Index CO₂ Rating, which remains the market’s primary reference for climate impact assessment.
Why air quality matters for yachting
The certification addresses a gap in how the industry measures its environmental footprint. Superyachts spend a significant portion of their operational time at anchor or at berth, often close to marinas, ports and populated coastlines, meaning their NOx and PM₂.₅ emissions have a direct impact on the air quality experienced by surrounding communities as well as owners, guests and crew on board.
Prof. Pierre Charles Maria, President of AtmoSud, said the initiative responded to a public health concern as much as an environmental one. “Providing transparent, scientifically credible indicators helps both regulators and industry stakeholders better understand local emissions and work collectively toward solutions,” he said.
How the rating works
The methodology draws on AIS data from 2,000 yachts over 24 metres to establish a representative operational profile across the Mediterranean, with fuel consumption modelling aligned to international maritime standards. Pollutants are assessed using the 2023 EMEP/EEA Air Pollutant Emission Inventory Guidebook, the European reference for maritime emissions modelling.
The certification uses a one-to-five star rating system, assessed independently for NOx and PM₂.₅, with a combined Air Quality Rating consolidating the two scores. Three stars represents the performance of a typical modern yacht, while four or five stars indicate vessels with advanced emissions-reduction technologies. Systems accounted for in the rating include Selective Catalytic Reduction for NOx, Diesel Particulate Filters for particulate matter, and alternative fuels such as methanol where validated emission factors exist.
Industry response
Bernard d’Alessandri, President of the SEA Index Superyacht Eco Association and General Secretary of Yacht Club de Monaco, said the certification gave the industry a reliable and internationally aligned tool. “It is another step toward a future where exceptional yachting experiences coexist with environmental responsibility,” he said.
The SEA Index was founded in 2020 by Yacht Club de Monaco and Credit Suisse, now part of the UBS Group, and forms a central part of Monaco’s ‘Capital of Advanced Yachting’ initiative. Future developments to the Air Quality Certification may extend the methodology to cover ultrafine particles, next-generation propulsion systems and additional pollutant categories.
Monaco has introduced a new check on the cooling systems of electric and hybrid vehicles as part of an update to its roadworthiness testing regime, with the measure having come into force on 21st March 2026.
The change requires inspectors to verify the coolant level in the traction batteries of electric and hybrid vehicles — whether plug-in or not — during the standard technical inspection. Until now, checks in this area were limited to detecting visible leaks. The new requirement goes further, identifying low coolant levels even where no leak is apparent.
Why it matters beyond safety
Low coolant in a traction battery can accelerate battery degradation and, in more serious cases, contribute to thermal runaway — the condition in which battery cells overheat uncontrollably. The Princely Government has framed the measure partly in safety terms and partly as a way of protecting battery performance and vehicle longevity, which has direct implications for resale value.
The check itself is visual. Where a shortfall is found, the top-up must be carried out by a qualified automotive professional, as the reservoir is sealed for safety reasons. Any follow-up re-inspection required as a result is free of charge.
Broader package of changes
The battery cooling check is part of a wider set of technical adjustments to Monaco’s roadworthiness testing framework. These include updates relating to the eCall emergency call system fitted to newer vehicles, checks on certain structural components, and document verification requirements for specific categories of specialist transport.
The Princely Government has confirmed that none of the changes result in an increase to the cost of the technical inspection.
Monaco Art Week opens on 27 April for its eighth edition, running through sto 1st May under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II. After moving away from its original spring calendar in recent years, the event returns to coincide with the Art Monte-Carlo fair at the Grimaldi Forum, concentrating two of the Principality’s most significant cultural moments into a single week.
Fourteen galleries, auction houses and art spaces will participate across several districts, with an opening vernissage on the evening of Monday 27th April from 6pm to 9pm. The programme spans sculpture, painting, jewellery and design, from Renaissance masters to contemporary practice.
Major names, rare works
The edition’s most significant museum-quality presentation comes from Moretti Fine Art, which is showing a rare copper painting by Artemisia Gentileschi — Sleeping Child (1630–1635) — for the duration of the week only. Works by Christo, drawn from the personal collection of his nephew Vladimir Yavachev, are on view at Galerie Adriano Ribolzi, while Sotheby’s is presenting a preview of the Fred Feinsilber collection ahead of its Paris auction in June, with pieces by Giacometti, Picasso, Kandinsky and Victor Brauner among the highlights.
Almine Rech continues its presentation of Irish painter Genieve Figgis — whose Drama Club exhibition opened in mid-April and runs through September — while Opera Gallery dedicates its space to a retrospective survey of designer Ron Arad spanning more than three decades of work. NM Contemporary opens the week with Alphabet Intime, a solo show by Italian artist Alfredo Rapetti Mogol, who is perhaps better known as a lyricist for artists including Laura Pausini, Eros Ramazzotti and Andrea Bocelli.
Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti
Auction houses and the street
Artcurial launches the seventh edition of Monaco Sculptures in partnership with the Société des Bains de Mer, placing monumental works from the 20th and 21st centuries across the Principality’s gardens and public spaces — with an auction to follow at the Hôtel Hermitage in July. The Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo holds its modern and contemporary sale on Thursday 30th April, with works including Giorgio de Chirico, Mario Schifano and Georges Mathieu on view from the opening of the week.
Talks and the market
A full day of conferences takes place on Tuesday 28th April at the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo. Giovanna Bertazzoni, Chairman of Christie’s Europe, will address a decade of shifts in the art market, while Christy W. Coombs of Sotheby’s leads a discussion on the move from private to corporate collecting. Art dealers Fabrizio Moretti and Helly Nahmad will speak on collecting as inheritance and passion, moderated by Björn Dahlström, Director of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco.
The week also intersects with the NMNM’s spring exhibition Le Sentiment de la Nature, running at Villa Paloma through 25th May, and two public performances on 29th April connected to that show.
New sponsor Aston Martin joins returning backers EFG Bank (Monaco) and Moravia Yachting for this edition.
Monaco’s Administration des Domaines has launched applications for three commercial lettings — two ground-floor units at the new Résidence Héméra on boulevard Rainier III and a fully equipped food kiosk near îlot Pasteur — with a deadline of 27th April.
The listings were published in the Journal de Monaco on 27th March and 3rd April.
Two units at Résidence Héméra
Both spaces are located on the ground floor of bloc A at 5, boulevard Rainier III and are offered in shell condition, requiring the incoming tenant to fit them out.
The first unit, lot R0-1, covers approximately 94 m² and is available for general commercial use. Restaurant activity of any kind is excluded, as is any professional or office use. The installation of extraction systems is also prohibited.
The second unit, lot R0-2, is slightly larger at approximately 105 m² and is designated specifically for food-to-go operations — snack bars, salad bars, sandwich shops, bakeries, ice cream, tea rooms, crêperies and similar formats. The successful applicant will be expected to serve the lunchtime trade of Monaco’s working population. No outdoor terrace space is provided with either unit, and operators must ensure their activity generates no noise or odour nuisance to neighbouring residents.
Kiosk near îlot Pasteur
The third letting is a fully fitted and equipped kiosk of approximately 30 m² situated between îlot Pasteur and the Hélios building, designated for food and snacking. It must open at minimum from Monday to Friday, 7:30 to 17:30. The letting also includes a separate 15 m² public convenience facility comprising two toilets — one accessible to people with reduced mobility — and a staff changing room.
No terrace space is provided by the Administration des Domaines as part of this letting. Applicants wishing to operate an outdoor terrace may apply separately to the Mairie de Monaco, which holds sole authority over use of public space.
How to apply
Application dossiers can be collected from the Administration des Domaines, fifth floor, 5 promenade Honoré II, Hall A, Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 17:00, or downloaded via the Princely Government’s Mon Entreprise portal. All applications must be submitted to the Administration des Domaines by noon on Monday 27 April 2026.
The Monaco Sevens Rugby Tournament will return on Friday 1st May, bringing a full day of international competition to Stade Prince Héréditaire Jacques in Beausoleil. Co-organised by the Fédération Monégasque de Rugby and AS Monaco Rugby, with the support of the Fondation Princesse Charlène de Monaco, the event will feature three categories of competition.
The program includes a women’s Open tournament featuring Monaco Umusa, the recent champions of the Emirates Dubai Sevens tournament. An Open men’s tournament will feature four regional teams including the Monaco national team, reigning 2025 European Champions of Conference 1. An Elite men’s tournament will bring together eight teams from the international circuit including Wombats, UAE Shaheen, UBB Sevens, as well as Monaco Impis, a team created much like the women’s team, as an initiative of Princess Charlene, President of the Fédération Monégasque de Rugby.
ZEGHDAR NAMED PATRON AS TRIBUTE TO DOMINICI PLANNED
Antoine Zeghdar, Olympic champion at the Paris 2024 Games, will serve as patron of the tournament.As an ambassador for the Fondation Princesse Charlène de Monaco, he said he was “very happy” to take on the role. Zeghdar, who was born in Monaco, now represents the French national team but started his rugby journey playing for AS Monaco Rugby.
A tribute will also be paid to Christophe Dominici, one of France’s most celebrated rugby players. The tribute will take place during the award ceremony for the best players from the women’s Open and men’s Elite, presented by his two daughters, Kiara and Mya, and in the presence of his wife, Loretta.
Admission to the event is free on Friday 1st May, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
