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.
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”.
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