Page 16 - Monaco Economy 117

Leader

The first arbitrations had been made before national education and the energy transition the effect of the measures in the Monaco
my arrival and that is normal. This budget are all held by women. This is a good thing. economic recovery plan?
was prepared and defended under exceptional They are there because they have all the It is a bit too soon. Some of the measures were
pandemic conditions. We forecast a deficit necessary skills to fulfil their functions and quickly taken up, such as the Carlo system,
of €114.5 million for 2021. This is assumed not because of positive discrimination. whereby we paid bonuses to civil servants
given the economic situation. It includes in the Principality in the form of credit notes
expenditure to support the economy, social And what about the government? Will for Christmas shopping. Over €4 million was
solidarity, structural assistance for housing, the next re-shuffle see a more extensive spent out of a total of €5.6 million. We have
promotion of sustainable development. This feminisation? now started having applications for other
budget is in deficit but it has the advantage One in six government ministers are women measures which are continuing into 2021
of giving priority to investments, especially for the moment. As for a re-shuffle, like the (financial aid to change windows to keep out
by continuing the National Housing Plan Prince said on the occasion of the National noise and improve insulation, to purchase
for Monégasques, with €200.5 million in Day of Monaco, “It’s difficult to change bicycles or electric scooters and cars and so
appropriations for 2021. We will strictly direction in the middle of a ford, specially on). We are starting an advertising campaign
respect our commitments and the announced in the current context.” We are in the very to raise awareness of these measures. We
deadlines. On the other hand, intervention and particular position of a pandemic and the must press on in order to reach our medium-
operating expenses have stabilised. From a Prince will re-shuffle his government when and long-term objectives, whilst at the same
Keynesian perspective, this deficit, therefore, he sees fit. time restarting the economic engine.
fully meets the conditions for boosting the
Monégasque economy. Would you be in favour of government With regard to public accounting, do you
departments splitting up as some are very think modernisation is necessary?
What are your top priorities? substantial? Consideration is being given to modernising
One should never lose sight of long-term In Monaco, the organisation of the government the budget nomenclature in order to have
objectives. The structural objectives of the includes one State Minister and five ministers. more efficient accrual accounting within
budget are how we protect the environment. I’m not sure it would be useful to have a higher government services. This will help to manage
Prince Albert II has fixed a goal of a 55% number of ministers! The most important thing expenses as effectively as possible throughout
reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030. is that there is good coordination between the year. The objective is to make sure that
Monaco is a very urbanised, busy place. In ministries – and that is the case. We resolve we choose the right spending at the right
Monaco, as in Marseille, road traffic is one these issues at the weekly Government time and to be constantly up-to-date on the
of the main pollution factors. A transport Committee. The meetings often last over availability that we have on each of the budget
and mobility strategy is needed, so that in three hours. lines. We are also preparing a bill on budget
the long term, driving in Monaco in non- closure, partly incorporating the bill from the
electric vehicles is avoided. We shall make Are you able to give a first status report on National Council.
choices – there are several possibilities: an
underground metro system between Nice
and Monaco; park and ride facilities; a fleet
of electrically-powered buses; a cable car
service. We are looking at the pros and cons
of each in environmental and budgetary terms.
We will debate these at the State Council and
then convey our suggestions to the Prince.

Will 2021 be the year of gender equality?
The National Council has approved a motion
asking the state for more women on company
boards in which the state is a shareholder.
Personally, I find the feminisation of executive
positions in the Monaco administration quite
extensive, with 57% of executives being
women, as well as nearly 48% of company @ Manuel Vitali - Direction de la communication
directors and department heads and over 62%
of ambassadors are women. Very important
directorships, like the budget and the treasury,
Pierre Dartout après sa visite aux sinistrés de la Tempête Alex / Pierre Dartout after visit to Storm Alex victims

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