New Green Deal Industrial Plan to promote net-zero tech in Europe

02/02/2023

The European Commission has rolled out its Green Deal Industrial Plan, which will ramp up the EU’s capacity to create and build on net-zero technologies and products that will help achieve climate goals.

The EU Green Deal Industrial Plan is the latest step in getting the bloc over the line in terms of its environmental commitments, and is based on providing four main concepts: a simplified regulatory environment, speeding up access to finance, enhancing skills, and opening trade routes for resilient supply chains.

Objectives of the Green Deal Industrial Plan

Cutting the amount of red tape necessary for deploying new net-zero companies will certainly make investors and innovators breathe easier. Fast-track permits and a clear list of standards allow for less confusion over “rights and wrongs”, and allow these businesses to be up and running sooner, as will better access to financing.

The Commission says it is aiming to guarantee a level playing field within the single market while making it easier for the Member States to grant necessary aid to give priority to those working toward the green transition.

As acknowledged in the Green Deal Industrial Plan, training for jobs of tomorrow will be instrumental in ensuring not just stability in the workforce, but a highly-skilled one based on newly created jobs. An estimated 35 to 40% of the workforce will be affected by their country “going green”.

The EU also wants to make trade competitive yet fair within its borders and abroad, and is working with its partners and the World Trade Organisation to get there.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to show the way with speed, ambition and a sense of purpose to secure the EU’s industrial lead in the fast-growing net-zero technology sector,” said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. “Europe is determined to lead the clean tech revolution. For our companies and people, it means turning skills into quality jobs and innovation into mass production, thanks to a simpler and faster framework. Better access to finance will allow our key clean tech industries to scale up quickly.”

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Photo source: European Commission / Facebook / Getty Images

Pension reform strikes: More protests in February

by: Stephanie Horsman

02/02/2023

Another wave of pension reform strikes is in the works as French unions fight back against plans to shake up the system and increase the retirement age to 64.

The 31st January strikes over proposed pension reforms to the French system have now come and gone, with union officials saying, “It was a success. The challenge is strong.”

But they were clearly not successful enough as another round of actions are being called for on 7th February.

SNCF’s main unions are supporting the planned strikes, as are unions for the mining, energy, chemical and port industries. Train strikes in particular could cause significant trouble for commuters.

The possibility of more strikes on 11th February is also being bandied, but the train unions are considering ‘calls to action’ rather than strikes, as this date coincides with the start of school holidays in some places. They fear the disruption would cause the public to turn against them, weakening their case.

International opinion on pension reform strikes

The international sentiment is general confusion over the hubbub, with journalists expressing what many are thinking privately.

“The British find it difficult to understand that the French, with their guaranteed pensions, are protesting so much for a decline from 62 to 64 years,” wrote one columnist for UK newspaper The Guardian.

In Germany, the daily Die Zeit described the standoff between the government and the unions as having “an air of déjà vu”, while in Italy, Anais Ginori, a journalist for Reppublica, wrote, “With us, the starting age is 67 so… Already when I explained during the French presidential campaign that certain candidates proposed a return to retirement at 60, it seemed lunar.”

Local impact of recent pension reform strikes

The last strikes saw SNCF train services very disrupted, with only one in five TER trains running. Nice Airport had to cancel 18 flights out of the usual 90 scheduled, and the Lignes d’Azur was “totally at a standstill”, according to Gaël Nofri, the deputy mayor of Nice and chairman of the network.

Only 21% of the teachers from the Academy of Nice took to the picket lines, down significantly from the 19th January strike where over 32% were present, and the local ski lift strike didn’t go quite as well as hoped for either. According to Frédéric Gil, the director of the Mercantour stations, Isola 2000 did not have any strikers and Auron saw only four people picketing out of roughly 150 “without consequence on service”.

Locally, police estimate that 7,000 demonstrators hit the streets, whilst Force Ouvrière, one of France’s major union confederations along with CGT and CFDT, put numbers at 25,000 to 30,000. Nationally, the Ministry of the Interior set the total number of strikers at 1.272 million. The unions claim 2.8 million. As ever in these events, the truth, no doubt, lies somewhere in-between.

A poll put out by Elabe on Wednesday showed that the public back the strikes, with two out of three approving.

Explained: Do I qualify for a taxe foncière exemption in 2023?

by: Elsa Carpenter

02/02/2023

Changes have been made to the rules surrounding the taxe foncière, specifically to those who can claim exemption in the short and long-term. Here’s what you need to know.

The taxe foncière is a local property ownership tax and varies in cost from municipality to municipality across the France. Traditionally, it has been paid by the person who owns a property on 1st January of that tax year, but the Finance Law of 2023 has established several of exemptions as well as reductions in payment for those on a low income.

Full exemption of the taxe foncière

As of 2023, a number of groups are exempt from paying the property ownership tax. Holders of the ASI, the supplementary disability allowance or allocation supplémentaire d’invalidité, as well as those benefitting from the ASPA, the allocation de solidarité aux personnes âgées, are no longer required to pay the taxe foncière. No means testing is required to qualify for the exemption.

Those over the age of 75 can obtain an exemption subject to means testing as well as on their second or holiday home too if they have one. Holders of the AAH, the allowance for disabled adults or allocation aux adultes handicapés, are given the same opportunity subject to their income.

The updates to the tax legislation have also brought an end to some marital rights when claiming exemption. For example, the person claiming ASPA must be the property owner or joint-property owner if the couple are to be relieved of the tax. The same applies to the means testing measures.

In all cases, these exemptions should be automatically taken into account following the completion of a 2023 tax return.

In a guide published at the end of January by the Service Public, the means testing ceiling has been set at €11,885 for the first part of the family quotient or quotient familial, plus €3,174 for each additional half-part.

Reduced payments according to income

Those declaring an income below €27,947 for the first part of the family quotient plus €6,530 for the first half-part and a further €5,140 for any other half-parts can obtain a reduction if they apply via the N°2041-DPTF-SD form.

Exemptions for vacant property

Owners could be in line for an exemption if a property usually intended for rental is involuntarily vacant on the part of the owner. This is also the cause for commercial or industrial property. In all cases, the vacancy must last at least three months.

Longer term exemptions for new builds

New builds or property bought off-plan is, in principle, exempt from property tax for two years following the completion of work. New builds purchased as a main residence are also exempt for 15 years if they meet certain conditions: the property must have been built with a loan from the HLM scheme or have been 50% financed by state-subsidised loans unless the financing in question was a zero-interest loan.

All owners should also remember to fill out the new déclaration d’occupation, which came into force on 1st January, by registering the occupation status of their property or properties under the Gérer mes biens immobiliers section of their account on impots.gouv.fr.

Explained: the new tax form all French home owners must fill out

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Photo source: Michael Kroul for Unsplash

A night of inspiration and talent at the Academie Rainier III

by: Elsa Carpenter

02/02/2023

A major showcase of the incredible talent nurtured at the Académie Rainier III is to take place this month under the instruction of its respected director, Jade Sapolin, and supported by Karyn Ardisson-Salopek, Monaco’s deputy mayor and chosen delegate to the institution.

On Thursday 9th February, the Academy’s musicians will perform a ‘Concert des Ensembles’ at the Théàtre des Variétés on 1 Boulevard Albert I in Monaco from 6.30pm.

It is an opportunity to discover the various musical forms and ensembles of the Académie Rainier III, from chamber music to cellists and a wind orchestra. The night promises a musical experience that is both inspiring and beautiful.

The concert is free to attend, but reservations must be made in advance. Click here for further information.

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Photo by Académie Rainier III

Donatas Motiejunas shines in Roca Team victory

by: Luke Entwistle

02/02/2023

AS Monaco Basketball breached the 100-point mark for the second consecutive Euroleague game as they eased past Alba Berlin (84-102) on Wednesday to keep pace with the front-runners and land another impressive Roca Team victory.

A dominant second-quarter performance from the Roca Team ultimately decided the game in favour of Sasa Obradovic’s side. The Serbian manager, who was returning to the club for whom he once played and managed, could count on an imperious Donatas Motiejunas on the night (22 points) to ensure another offensive display from his team.

18 of Motiejunas’ points came in the first-half, with the Lithuanian consistently finding the space within the key to exact maximum damage. Elie Okobo (12 points) and Mike James (13 points) shared the creative burden, registering six assists apiece, as Monaco cut through the Alba Berlin defence like a knife through butter.

Their dominance continued into the second half, as their lead was managed and maintained with Alba never coming within striking distance. Finishing on 102 points, the Roca Team breached the 100-point mark for the second time in the Euroleague in under a week after pulling off the feat against Milan last Friday.

The win is crucial, not only to keep up with the Euroleague leaders, who remain just one win in front, but also to give confidence ahead of the arrival of one of those leaders at the Salle Gaston Médécin on Friday. “It is an important victory that allows us to prepare for Real Madrid’s arrival in the best way possible,” said Monaco’s Jordan Loyd.

Photo by AS Monaco Basket

A 100% digital future: Monaco reflects on its achievements and looks ahead to next phase of transition

by: Elsa Carpenter

01/02/2023

The message at the recent Energy Transition Conference in Monaco was clear: many steps have been made in Monaco’s journey towards a more digital and environmentally sound society, but further work is needed if it is to realise Prince Albert II’s goals by 2030.

At the annual Mission for the Energy Transition (MTE) meeting last week, politicians and business leaders from across the Principality came together to report on their successes as well as their thoughts on what needs to be done if Monaco is to become a completely digital and inherently sustainable state by the end of this decade.

It is now six years since the white paper by the Principality’s government that laid out plans to phase into a more digital and environmentally sound society was published, and no one at the meeting could dispute that the progress made since then has been anything less than incredible.

Many of Monaco’s administrative forms are now available online, digital payroll is the norm rather than the exception, improvements have been made to housing to save energy, there has been a general reduction in waste by the population, efforts have been made to lower CO2 emissions, and multiple private sector companies have joined the state in its commitment to the standards set by the government. In short, a report written by Annabelle Jaeger-Seydoux, the director of the MTE, and shared at the conference, showed that, thus far, the transition has certainly been a success story.

But as Céline Caron-Dagioni, the minister for Public Works, the Environment and Urban Planning, stated in her discourse, there are still advancements to be made in order to reach the 2030 goal of a total switch.

“2030 is in seven years, it is already tomorrow,” she reminded those gathered. “Let us therefore redouble our efforts and our collective creativity to come together ever more widely and convince all those who are currently not totally convinced of the imperative need for our approach.”

“The State must be exemplary,” followed up Minister of State Pierre Dartout. “At all levels of the state, agents are engaged in everyday actions that contribute to controlling consumption and preserving resources.”

It was then the turn of leaders from the Principality’s business community, whose commitment has been impactful in the overall scheme. Marie-Gisèle Fringant, the president of the Junior Economic Chamber, CSR Manager at CFM Indosuez Virginie Bernard, and Gabriel Viora, the president of the Order of Architects, were amongst those to speak.

The guest of honour at the event was Guy Pezaku, CEO of the start-up Murfy, an innovative company that has created a digital out-of-warranty repair platform that will help save money for consumers as well as resources. Murfy offers free online self-diagnostic tools to allow people to carry out minor repairs themselves. If the job is too big, they can send out an expert technician, citing a fixed price repair package that includes a six-month warranty on the same failure.

Finally, the Energy Transition Trophies were awarded to three winners for their dedication to the objectives and goals of the MTE: EatIn’s Léo de Bruyn for his 100% electrically-powered delivery service in the Principality, Grégory Rougaignon from ICI Salad for his investment in the MaConsigne concept, and MoNa Résidence developer Jean-Baptiste Pastor of the Michel Pastor Group for his efforts in this renewable energy-driven project.

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Photo source: Monaco Communications Department

Tag: monacolife

New Green Deal Industrial Plan to promote net-zero tech in Europe

Objectives of the Green Deal Industrial Plan

Pension reform strikes: More protests in February

International opinion on pension reform strikes

Local impact of recent pension reform strikes

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