HomeNewsLocal NewsLocal Cross-Border Commission for Franco-Monegasque Cooperation – Joint Communiqué
Local Cross-Border Commission for Franco-Monegasque Cooperation – Joint Communiqué
By Staff Writer - January 13, 2019
The eighth meeting of the local cross-border commission for Franco-Monegasque cooperation was held on 11 January 2019 at the Ministry of State of the Principality of Monaco.
Created in 2005, this commission is held annually alternately in Monaco and Nice. Its purpose is to deal with neighborhood issues between the Principality of Monaco and the local authorities of the Alpes-Maritimes, particularly in the areas of social affairs, health, transport, planning and the environment in the spirit of “Community of destiny” that drives both countries.
The meeting was co-chaired by HE Mr Serge Telle, Minister of State of the Principality of Monaco, HE Mrs Marine de Carné-Trecesson, Ambassador of France in Monaco and Mr Georges-François Leclerc, Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes.
The Monegasque delegation included the members of the Prince’s Government. The French delegation was composed of representatives of the French Embassy in Monaco, the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes and elected officials.
Among the topics on the agenda, the issue of service to Monaco, which is a central concern for which the authorities discussed together the possibilities for improvement, was discussed.
In this respect, progress has been made on the reopening of the Beausoleil motorway exit ramp, as well as those relating to the development of intersections on the medium corniche. Exchanges also focused on alternative modes of transport such as the creation of a maritime link and improved coordination of national police and gendarmerie services in the area of peak hour traffic management.
In addition, the committee had constructive discussions on the La Cruella quarry development project, the housing of assets or the implementation of teleworking for employees of Monegasque companies residing in France.
The committee welcomed the good progress made on the technical aspects of securing the Rainier III tunnel and delegations agreed on accelerating its validation at the governmental level to improve passenger safety.
Various topics concerning the activities developed by the Principality’s companies on French territory were also discussed, as was the integration of the Monaco Nursing Training Institute into Parcoursup for the year 2019-2020.
The committee welcomed the successful implementation of the digital partnership signed in 2015 between the Principality of Monaco and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis and discussed other cross-border cooperation projects.
In addition, the status of the MOU extension project has been presented, the work initiated in 2016 is continuing and should be fully completed by 2025.
Many topics have made significant progress and those that can not be resolved at the local level will be examined by the French-Monegasque National Cooperation Commission, which will meet in Paris in 2019.
The two delegations agreed to hold the next session of the Local Committee in 2020 in Nice.
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More than 150 years ago, before the urbanisation of the Principality, ninety percent of its land, which in those days included Roquebrune and Menton, was used for agricultural development and farmers were taxed on citrus produce.
When the railway link connecting Monaco to France began service, five years after SBM opened the Monte Carlo Casino in 1863, tourism quickly replaced the agriculture economy as visitors, either looking for Lady Luck at the world famous casino or wanting to take a gander at how one percent of the other half live, descended in steady numbers on the principality.
[caption id="attachment_11242" align="alignnone" width="709"] Philip Culazzo makes Monaco's only orange liqueur[/caption]
Although today’s Monaco is described as “100 percent urban”, it still has a trace of those agricultural roots, with its 600 bitter orange trees, which you’ll find along avenue Grande-Bretagne, and boulevards Suisse, Italie and Moulins. A detail not overlooked by resident Philip Culazzo.
“I trade foodstuffs,” Mr Culazzo, who’s lived in the Principality for seven years, tells Monaco Life, “and I understand quality control. Monaco’s orange trees are organic, they are not treated with pesticides, but they are too bitter to eat, so charitable organisations cannot use them. It’s a shame that they are wasted.”
Mr Culazzo, a Dubliner with French and Italian heritage, was also aware that while Monaco offers a great deal in terms of sightseeing and culture, and visiting family and friends, there was no locally-made product that tourists could buy as a memento or that residents could offer to their guests.
Two years ago, Mr Culazzo contacted the government to inquire whether he could experiment with some of the bitter oranges. He bought distilling and fermentation equipment and started testing. When he presented the results to the administration, they were on board. He founded l’Orangerie in 2015.
“I love wines and spirits, and often visit vineyards on holidays,” he told Monaco Life from his recently opened shop at 9 rue de la Turbie, near Place des Armes. “I’m not an oenologist, I’m not a scientist, so I’m learning about the chemical process of transforming oranges into a digestif that tastes this good.”
Four ingredients make up l’Orangerie: Monaco bitter oranges, a small amount of sugar, water and alcohol. Similar to limoncello, the alcohol content is 30 percent. Last year, 15,000 tonnes of oranges produced 50,000 bottles.
“There are no added colours or chemicals, the drink is 100 percent natural,” Mr Culazzo explains. A framed letter in French on the wall behind him expresses appreciation for the bottle of l’Orangerie, the first ever produced, from HSH Prince Albert.
“You may find some deposits at the bottom of the bottle, but this follows the trend of organic wines also.”
The orange liqueur is produced entirely on site, from the manual peeling to production. During the two-month harvest, which started the first week of January, a month earlier than usual due to the warmer weather, Monaco’s garden services deliver crates of Monaco’s finest (and only) citrus directly to rue de la Turbie. The fragrance of the oranges cannot be contained within the atelier.
[caption id="attachment_11800" align="alignnone" width="640"] Philip Culazzo offers a degustation to Secretary of State at the Palace, Mr Jacques Boisson, and his wife.[/caption]
Secretary of State at the Palace, Jacques Boisson, and his wife, returning to the Rock after lunch, are intrigued by the aroma and the colourful window front so decide to pop in. They’re offered a degustation of the orange liqueur by Mr Culazzo.
The Boissons, a delightful couple who lived for many years in New York and also Paris, are instant fans of the drink – “very fragrant, ideal as an apéro with friends” – and purchase a bottle, which sells for €25.
“My goal is to sell 50,000 bottles a year,” says Mr Culazzo. “The idea is Monaco first and foremost, and I hope people will have a bottle in their homes to offer visitors.”
The eye-catching bottle, which reflects glamour of the thirties, uses a textured paper like an orange peel. L’Orangerie has permission to sell bottles directly from the atelier, but it’s also available to buy at the Wine Palace and Mr Room Service. Otherwise, restaurants, beach clubs, bars and nightclubs in Monaco are beginning to stock it.
Already the orange-flavoured liqueur has inspired several cocktails: The Monaco Spritz (orange liqueur, Prosecco, ice and zest), The Rocher (with gin) and the rose-syrup La Gracieuse, and surely more will follow.
Article first published February 16, 2017.