French friends visit National Council

The Groupe d'Amitie France-Monaco met with Monaco's parliament.

At the beginning of July the President of the National Council and a delegation of Monegasques received members of the Groupe d'Amitie France-Monaco, led by Christophe-Andre Frassa, who represents French expats in the Senate. There have been friendly relations between the two organizations since 2007. On the agenda:

• the ratification procedure of the electricity supply convention relating, signed on 25th June 2009
• the situation of French in Monaco following the court ruling on 1st September 2009
• the role of the Princess Grace Hospital in public health policy of the Alpes Maritimes
• relations with the European Union

At the heart of discussions was the 20 year decline in the number of French living in the Principality, from 14000 to 8000. Linked to this is the tax situation of enfants du pays [1], and the insufficiency of cheap rental accommodation, which has also been depleted over 10 to 20 years. Both sides agreed to raise the issues with their respective Governments.

Meeting of the France-Monaco Groupe d'Amitie du Senat at the National Council [2]

Meeting of the GAFM with the National Council : the "enfants du pays" at the centre of the debate [3]