RT March 2014 by Riviera Press

The English-language newspaper for the French - Italian Riviera & Monaco since 2002

www.rivieratimes.com Issue 144 - March 2014 2.50 e

5 Major real estate shake-up New housing laws are set to shake the real estate industry this year, after the government passed the controversial "significantly leftist" Loi Duflot in late February, albeit a watered down version of the original. In an effort to introduce 'fairness' into the property sector, Minister of Housing Cécile Duflot proposed a number of significant changes and the Lower House adopted them following a redrafting by the Senate. If approved by the Upper House (which is expected), the new laws will come into effect from September 2014. The most significant are: Rent control In certain 'tension' areas including the Côte d'Azur Prefects will set by decree each year a median rent of reference. The owner may not charge higher than 20% of this figure or 30% below. An ‘exceptional complementary rent’ may be added to the base rent for housing that is particularly well situated or of a very high standard, but the tenant can challenge this with a conciliation commission. Unpaid rent protection Free and universal public guarantee rents (GUL) will protect owners in the private market for unpaid rent for a period of 18 months, effective no later than 1st January 2016. This is estimated to cost 420 million euros per year. Continued on page 13...

Our very own Statue of Liberty In miniature

Luxury real estate in focus Outlook 2014

Magical dining experience Enter & win!

Far right threat

Foreigners could help sway municipal elections away from a potential National Front dominance

etween the rise of the National Front and Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi's call to tighten the borders, there is much at stake for foreigners in the upcoming municipal elections. While non-Europeans are excluded from the vote, French and European citizens aged 18 and over can head to the ballot boxes on 23rd and 30th March to weigh in on local politics. For the past few years, the far right National Front (FN) has been benefiting, especially in the traditionally right wing Côte d'Azur, from a fall in grace of the two mainstream parties and a dedicated campaign by

FN leader Marine Le Pen to dedemonize her party. With growing dissatisfaction in the main parties - the leftist Socialists (PS) and the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), a conservative right wing party - France is continuously looking for a new leadership alternative. After former UMP president Nicolas Sarkozy's term, discontented citizens throughout France split their votes between the right and the left. In 2007, Socialists won the support of 18.3% of the population in the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur, increasing slightly to 19.4% during the 2012 national elections.

The FN, however, boosted its popularity by over 10%, rising to 23.9% in 2012 - well above the national average of 17.9% for the far right party. With Hollande's popularity rate grazing the single digits, support for the National Front is at an all-time high. Marine Le Pen went as far as ranking the FN as France's first party, after it topped an Ifop poll in October 2013 regarding the European elections. During this time, FN candidate Laurent Lopez won the cantonal elections in Brignoles (Var) with an eight point margin over his UMP opponent, garnering 54% of votes. While the UMP remains the

strongest party in the Côte d'Azur, with candidates running in 87 communes in the Côte d'Azur the FN says it is likely to win the mayor's office in towns such as Fréjus, La Seyne, Pradet and Six Fours in the Var, not to mention the area surrounding Brignoles. This rise in power of the National Front may also be due in no small part to Marine Le Pen's efforts to re-brand the party. Her father Jean Marie Le Pen, who preceded her as the head of the FN, spawned the party's far right reputation and was convicted several times for racism and anti-semitism. Continued on page 8...

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Let’s not underestimate ourselves

Inside this edition: NEWS Political column ......................................................... News in brief ............................................................... Municipal elections continued...............................

4 5 8

Profile: Democrats Abroad ..................................... Get to know your Consul ........................................

6 7

14 15

9 10 11

18 19

EVENTS Presenting the best events of the month ...........

CLASSIFIEDS Listing everything from jobs to contractors ....... 12 12 13

16-17

GOURMET Restaurant review: Le Candille ................................ Finding Bastronomie in France .............................

REAL ESTATE Property series: La Môle .......................................... New builds slump ..................................................... The Terre Blanche experience.................................

State of the industry ................................................. MIPIM: connecting the global market ..................

Tide turns for superyach industry .........................

MONACO Exclusive interview: Jean Castellini........................ Rolex Masters top of its game ............................... Solar1 Monte Carlo Cup launch ............................

LUXURY REAL ESTATE BUSINESS

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20-21

SERVICES Life support for expats .............................................

Sometimes, as foreigners, we forget how much influence we can actually impose within our local communities. Not only that, our municipal governments completely underestimate us. When I first arrived here I realised very quickly, as a journalist, that the expat community was not taken very seriously, which amazed me considering nearly half a million foreigners now live in the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur. As we have seen in American politics, we - as a minority group (yes I am using that word despite its negative connotations) have the power to swing the polls (European-only voters for now). Perhaps this has never been so important as for these upcoming municipal elections, with the rising popularity of the far right National Front. It is not just the "undesirable" immigrants that they will inevitably lock out, it is us we are foreigners by definition, despite the colour of our skin. While we may not be able to influence national politics, we can have a say regarding who runs our communities and which political party will push its ideologies. And when they examine the voters' profiles more closely, they might start to see the potential power we hold, and who knows, it could just make a difference.

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Record breaking 2013 THE CÔTE AZUR welcomed 11 million tourists last year and passed the threshold of 1.5 million non-European tourists. Monaco also had a record breaking year with over half a million hotel room reservations. The Côte d'Azur's tally of 11 million visitors overall was roughly the same as 2012, but the Regional Tourism Committee (CRT) was proud to announce that more than 1.5 million visitors were from outside of Europe for the first time. "Three foreign visits out of 10 are now from non-European customers," said the CRT. North America represents about a third of this group, while one out of five are from Russia. Africa came in third with one visit out of 10, while China doubled its number of travellers to the Côte d'Azur in three years, and this figure is expected to exceed 100,000 visits in 2014. Monaco also had a record breaking year with 587,431 hotel room reservations, or an occupancy rate of 64.54%, over 2% more than 2012. While the majority of tourists come from France (17.9%), Great Britain beat Italy to second place with nearly 12%. The United States come in fourth at 10%, and Russia in fifth place with 7.2%.

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Two injured in shopping centre collapse

Political Column by Julian Nundy The Riviera Times’ political commentator in Paris

Miraculous escape at Nice’s Carrefour Stan Aron

Investigators are yet to reveal the cause of the collapse

uthorities are amazed that no one was seriously injured when 300 square metres of the Carrefour shopping centre at Lingostière in Nice collapsed on 5th February. The record rainfall is believed to have weakened the roof, but investigators are yet to reveal the cause behind the accident. The store's owner, the Klepierre group, decided to also tear down the south entrance, which is identical to the 300 square metre collapsed section. Though nothing indicated the south entrance was at any risk, Alpes Maritimes prefect cabinet director Jehan Eric Winckler told Nice Matin it was a wise decision to demolish it.

"Many people wouldn't have wanted to walk through it anymore," he said. Robert Arribas, CGT union representative at Carrefour Lingostière, said that the collapse could have been prevented. "We've been warning them for two years. The water leaks in the ceiling were becoming more and more prevalent." But Carrefour management denies any link, saying, "The few leaks following the heavy rain of these past days have nothing to do with the collapse of the shopping centre. “The security commission inspected the building in December 2013 and cleared the use of the centre for the next two years."

A disintegrating establishment

rançois Hollande, a president who has beaten all records of unpopularity since his election two years ago, faces a crucial test at the ballot-box this month, a test that he is likely to fail miserably. Paradoxically, his main opposition is heading for qualified humiliation as well. The occasion will be the two rounds of municipal elections in France's 36,000 towns and villages, ranging from the tiniest hamlets to Paris and other big cities on 23rd and 30th March. They are elections in which European Union residents are entitled to vote and be candidates. It is a given in many countries that the party in power suffers in mid-term local elections as voters express their discontent with their rulers. Reflecting this tendency, Hollande's Socialist Party gained control of many towns and regions under the conservative presidencies of Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy between 1995 and 2007. In consequence, Chirac's and Sarkozy's centre right Union for a Popular Movement, or UMP, saw its numbers on local councils shrink. While the UMP is hoping to

grab back a number of the towns it lost while it held national power, the signs are that its successes will be limited. The biggest prize would be Paris, held by the Socialists since they broke a 24-year grip by the right in 2001. But, while the two main candidates are close in the polls, the UMP's choice, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, a former minister under Sarkozy, has had a poor campaign, with defections and the emergence of dissident conservative candidates, complicating her challenge to Anne Hidalgo, the current first deputy mayor and Socialist candidate. What the UMP and its allies are banking on is huge abstention by Hollande's left wing base, disenchanted by his perceived lack of movement on the economy and his all-toopublic private life. While defections by Socialist voters will undoubtedly help, the right has its own, and increasingly menacing, Achilles' heel - the far right National Front, headed by Marine Le Pen, the daughter of the anti-immigration party's founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen. The younger Le Pen has devoted her three years as

party leader to making the National Front acceptable to a broader base. Recent opinion polls have tipped the National Front to take as many as 30 per cent of the votes in Perpignan and 20 per cent in Marseille. To retain these cities, the UMP might have to strike alliances with other parties. Although there have been some unauthorised exceptions, UMP policy until now has always been to rule out coalitions with the National Front, following the injunction of a former conservative mayor of Lyon, Michel Noir, a quarter of a century ago: "It is better to lose an election than to lose your soul." The net effect of this fragmentation is to concentrate the media glare on the National Front, which is likely to hold the balance of power on a good number of councils when they are cobbled together in early April. Even when those results are known, the misery will not be over for Hollande and his conservative rivals. In May come elections for the European Parliament. And for months now, pollsters have been predicting that the party that will then emerge as France's first will be none other than the National Front.

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appeal. Accused of illegal dealings for granting his wife's ex-husband a beach lot for a restaurant in Fréjus, Mayor Brun was given a 20,000 euro fine and barred from public office for five years.

On the Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust - 27th January - a Wall of the Righteous was unveiled at the Château in Nice, commemorating those who risked their lives to protect Jews from the Nazis during the Second World War. 125 names are engraved on the wall. Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi was present at the event alongside Mark Halter, a well-known Jewish author who often writes books on Jewish history. An 80-year-old man named Claude received an award on behalf of a couple from Nice who kept him safe and hidden during the Holocaust. Photo: Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis

THE SAINT Augustin neighbourhood, on the west side of Nice, will soon have a new railway bridge for the intersection of the upcoming Cannes-Nice train line, the future second tramway line and busses. After diverting traffic and demolishing the surrounding buildings, the railway bridge's construction effectively began in midJanuary and should be finished by October. AN APPEAL by the Cultural Affairs Department in the Principality of Monaco has been launched for artists to put forward their works for exhibition in its 2nd ‘Forum

des Artistes de Monaco’, to be held from 5th to 15th June 2014 in the Auditorium Rainier III. Open to any artist professional or amateur, and whatever their nationality who has been resident in the Principality for at least five years, the forum is part of a government initiative to encourage local artists. DESPITE HAVING been barred from public office for five years in January, Mayor Elie Brun of Fréjus will still be running for re-election in the upcoming municipal race. He was found guilty of corruption charges but the ruling has been suspended pending his

IT'S OFFICIAL, this is the wettest winter recorded in Nice since Méteo France started tracking levels in 1980. While rainfall in Paris has only reached around 100mm so far in 2014 (end of February), Nice has experienced five times that amount. Last year, the total rainfall in Nice hit a record 505mm, but this year the threshold has been beaten by a long mile with more than 553mm of rain so far - and winter's not even over yet! Sunshine in Nice was rarely seen - 23% less than average, while temperatures were oddly two degrees above the seasonal norm. Ski resorts are relishing in record snowfall, with up to three metres recorded on the peaks in Isola 2000. The only problem is, landslides and avalanches keep closing access roads to the resorts. POLICE IN the Var are warning residents of an elaborate scam in which thieves are disguised as police officers. The scam involves someone pretending to be an agent from a company who arrives at the victim's home, claiming they need to check water flow or gas pipes. Later, men posing as policemen arrive, stating there was a thief in the area under the disguise of an agent. They then ask the victim if they are missing any jewellery or money from their

Michel Pastor dies aged 70

ne of the most emblematic figures in the Principality of Monaco, whose construction company cranes dominate the skyline, passed away on 2nd February at the age of 70 after a long illness. Michel Pastor builder, art collector, chairman of AS Monaco Football Club from 2004-2008, and owner of the luxury food brand Hédiard for 12 years, was a man of many facets. Born 1944, his father was Gildo Pastor, son of JeanBaptiste, a stone cutter who arrived on the Rock in the 1880s and gave birth to a dynasty that became one of the wealthiest families in Europe. One of three, Michel Pastor had a higher profile than either

his brother Victor (died 2002) or sister Hélène. He was frequently seen with his wife Catherine at high society dinners and involved in the life of the Principality on many levels. As well as his AS Monaco chair, he was chairman of the Monaco Chamber of Economic Development from 1999 to 2009 and the Grimaldi Forum culture and conference centre, and also CEO of the Michel Pastor Group (MPG), which he ran with his son Jean-Baptiste. An avid art collector, Michel owned works by César, Armand and Fernand Léger, among others, and was president of the very active Maison de l'Amérique Latine art association and Honorary Consul of Peru.

THE TOLL charge on Escota motorways has risen by up to 20 cents. In the Alpes Maritimes, just one toll price rose in Antibes by 10 cents, pushing the total cost to three euros. In the Var, rates jumped by 10 cents between Le Muy and Puget sur Argens, and also between Saint Maximim and Trans en Provence. On the Aix en Provence and Italy stretch, the toll price increased by an extra 20 cents. This adds up to a 0.73% rise on average for motorways managed by Escota. In the space of nine years, toll prices have soared by a total of 21.73%. THE HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED film 'Grace of Monaco' is to open this year's Cannes Film Festival in May. Starring Nicole Kidman as Princess Grace and Tim Roth as Prince Rainier III, the film was expected to be released last year but has been delayed reportedly due to editing disagreements. As is normal with the festival, the opening film will not be competing for any prizes. The screening will take place on Wednesday 14th May in the Official Selection category, Out of Competition. Meanwhile, the presentation of the Palme d'Or, the final and most coveted prize in the competition, has been moved forward a day to 24th May due to European Elections on 25th May. Charly Gallo, Centre de Presse

His eldest daughter Alexandra is married to David Halliday, son of France's favourite rocker Johnny, and other daughter Delphine is president of the Michel Pastor Group's subsidiary John Taylor, an upmarket real estate agency. His group was behind the Monte Carlo View, Garden House, Le Floridian and the Novotel, and owns the Columbia and Houston Palace on avenue Princesse Grace. MPG is not to be confused with J.B. Pastor et fils, named after the grandfather's original company, run by Patrice and Jean-Victor. They are behind the striking 179m-high Simona residence, whose lacy white concrete structure hides 24 luxury duplex apartments

home. Without realising, the resident leads the thieves straight to all their valuables and money. The victims targeted are most often elderly people.

Michel Pastor left behind a legacy

each with its own pool. In April 2011, Michel was made an officer in France's Legion of Honour. An official statement from the Monaco government said that not only was he an entrepreneur involved in the economic development of Monaco, but also "a man dedicated to humanitarian, sporting and cultural causes" in the Principality. Claire Lathbury

Stan Aron

Statue of Liberty in Nice A fitting symbol on the Quai des États Unis

fter months of renovations, the Quai des États Unis in Nice was given back to pedestrians in early February with a new layout featuring a larger pathway, a bicycle lane and rows of blue chairs similar to those on the Promenade des Anglais. Alongside those renovations, a Statue of Liberty was inaugurated. The 1.35 metre bronze statue, weighing 80 kilograms, was the last model left from French artist Frederic Bartholdi, who is known for creating New York's giant Statue of Liberty with engineer Gustave Eiffel in 1886. "We wanted this statue to be modest, as our goal isn't to compete with New York," said Mayor Christian Estrosi during the ceremony, which was followed by a concert celebrating American music at the nearby Opera House. While not rivalling New York, some have pointed out that the upcoming park in Nice's Eco Valley is somewhat reminiscent of the Big Apple's Central Park. With New York and Nice's statues facing the sea, U.S. Consul General Diane Kelly acknowledged the symmetry between the two port cities, which are only a few hours away thanks to a direct flight from Nice's airport. "For me, it's as if the two sides of the waters that part us are coming

closer together," she told The Riviera Times. Kelly concluded her speech with a few words in English for the Americans in the audience: "I'm proud to see so many Americans come back to France to spread our culture, to share our beliefs and to get to know what French people think." The original Statue of Liberty in New York was a gift to the United States by the

people of France. Many cities around the world already have replicas of the monument such as Las Vegas, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. Stan Aron

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Keeping American voters engaged from overseas The “sophisticated” members of Democrats Abroad

eing an expat does not necessarily mean one is cut off from the political process of your home country. Foreign residents on the Côte d'Azur are lucky to have numerous and dynamic communities from all over the world, and one such group is the French Riviera chapter of Democrats Abroad (DA) - an organisation dedicated to keeping expats from the United States engaged in the politics of their home country and even their home state. With roughly 260 members throughout the Côte d'Azur and Monaco, the French Riviera was DA's first regional chapter in France. This international arm of the Democratic Party, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month, was founded in Paris and London in 1964. It now has committees throughout Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Among the events held by DA in the French Riviera, the monthly Political Wines are the most notable. Every first Wednesday of the month at the La Canne à Sucre bar on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, the Political Wines invite the public, whether American or not, to discuss political issues related to United States current affairs such as gun control, taxes or income inequality. Last month, Scott Baker, chairperson at the Riviera chapter of DA France, talked about President Obama's

recent State of the Union speech. "The motivation behind the Political Wines is that we want to engage our members on political topics," he told The Riviera Times. "That way we create a forum on which they can discuss these things, they become engaged and that lays the groundwork for that motivation to put the ballot in the mail and get out the vote." GOTV, or Get Out The Vote Though there is a social element to these events, DA is not a social group and is very much about the voting process, according to Carol Lebrousse, former chair of DA France Riviera. "The goal of Democrats Abroad is, first - getting Americans to know that they can vote, second - getting them to register to vote, and third - getting the ballot

Meredith Wheeler, former chair of the Toulouse chapter of Democrats Abroad, sending her ballot during the 2012 presidential elections (voting for Barack Obama, of course)

elections but also in local elections in their home state. They must, however, register to vote every election year. "If you come from Massa-

Scott Baker, chairperson of Democrats Abroad France Riviera and Connie Borde, chair of Democrats Abroad France

submitted," she said. Despite living abroad, American citizens can indeed vote not only in presidential

chusetts, you're part of the Massachusetts voters," Connie Borde, chair of DA France, told The Riviera Times. Citizens who

have never lived in the United States can also vote in their parents’ home state." As a result, the 6.2 million American expats, roughly 2% of the United States' population, can have an impact on all stages of the political process, whether presidential, primary, or the upcoming midterm elections which will determine the balance of power in the 114th Congress. Such elections can and have been swayed by voters from abroad, as races often come down to a handful of votes like in the 537 Florida votes which determined the 2000 presidential election, sending George W. Bush to the White House. "U.S. Senator from Minnesota Al Franken won his election by 312 votes, which is incredible," said Borde. "There are exactly 313 overseas Americans living in France who vote in Minnesota, according Al's brother Owen. So Owen likes to say that it's DA France that won Al Franken's election." In 2008, DA inaugurated their global primaries where registered democrats living all over the world helped decide between the Democratic Party's presidential candidates, most notably Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. "Barack Obama won that primary hands down overseas - 96%, whereas you recall what a very close primary that was. It was one of the most exciting moments I've ever lived in my life," said Borde. That excitement was also apparent on a local level, according to Carol Lebrousse, who was chair of the Riviera at the time. "We arranged to have a room in the West End hotel. There were a lot of people," she said. Not only DA members, but registered democrats in general took part in the event.

Lebrousse expects to have a similar event in the Côte d'Azur for the 2016 presidential elections. "Sophisticated voters" For DA France chair Connie Borde, Americans living abroad care about the same issues as United States residents and want to weigh in on them. But there are some differences between democrats in the US and abroad. "Democrats in the United States are less interested in foreign policy. They also tend to be a little bit more conservative, in general," she said. "I would say that we're sophisticated voters. We live abroad so it takes more for us to get to know what's going on in the United States." DA had a republican counterpart which was shut down in early 2013. There remains, however, a Republicans Abroad France association based in Paris, but even

of Republicans Overseas - a fundraising organisation replacing Republicans Abroad - told the Washington Times, "For many years, the Democrat Party used its overseas group, Democrats Abroad, as a political weapon against our candidates in elections." In an effort to appeal to overseas voters, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has recently signed a resolution to repeal the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA. The law forces foreign banks to report their American clients' accounts to the US government in an attempt to clamp down on tax evasion, but the requirements are so heavy that some banks now refuse to do business with Americans altogether. DA also has issues with the law, as Joe Smallhoover, vice chair of DA France and member of the FATCA taskforce, told The Riviera Times, "We believe that the law or the regulations should be amended so that Americans residing overseas are not caught in this trap of FATCA." For Smallhoover, however, Republicans and Democrats aren't actually on the same side of this issue. "We do not want to repeal it, and neither, in fact, do the Republicans," he said, adding that Republicans "know this is never going to happen, and just want to get people charged up and give [them] contributions." In January, Solomon Yue, an RNC official from Oregon, told Reuters that their FATCA repeal effort "will attract overseas donors."Americans from all

Citizens living abroad can register and request an absentee ballot through the website VoteFromAbroad.org by filling in their information in only six easy steps

according to former chair Stuart Haugen, their numbers are nowhere near DA's. Republicans fight back Republicans in the United States have grown frustrated with the overwhelmingly democratic voters from overseas. As Bruce Ash, chairman

over the world have until September to October, depending on the state, to register for the upcoming midterm elections and request an absentee ballot. They can do so directly on the website: VoteFromAbroad.org. Stan Aron

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Get to know your Consul The Riviera Times talks to British Consul Simon Taylor In this new series, The Riviera Times will be interviewing a number of international consuls on their important role in the community, as well as a few hidden truths. This month, we spoke to Simon Taylor who took up the post of British Consul in Marseille in 2007. Liverpool-born, Mr Taylor lived an exciting international life due to his father, who worked in the Foreign Office. With French blood running through his veins thanks to his grandmother, Mr Taylor headed to Paris where he met his wife and had two children, now aged 21 and 24. After a 20-year career at the British Consulate in Paris, Mr Taylor accepted a position in the southwest of France because he "wanted a new challenge and to live in the south of France". Now it's time to get to know your consul...

First, the obvious… What are your main responsibilities as British Consul? Together with my team in Marseille and Bordeaux, we provide consular assistance to British nationals in the south of France who get into difficulty. These include hospitalisations, deaths, victims of crime - including sexual assault and rape, those arrested and imprisoned, missing persons, people with mental health issues, and authorising the issue of emergency travel documents to those who have either had their passports lost or stolen. Describe what an average day is like for you at work? I usually get in at around 8.30am and start the day meeting with my team to discuss what our priorities are for the day and who is doing what. We check and see if there have been any new

assistance cases overnight. I then might do some project work which could include assessing one of our preventative campaigns like the current 'Stay Safe on the Slopes' initiative, aimed at the 200,000 British nationals who come skiing to France every year, or ensuring that our online information packs on subjects such as death in France are up-to-date and relevant. Then, for example, a call to a Gendarmerie to ask if a missing British person has been found or a discussion with a procureur to ask what action the court is taking to investigate the rape of one of our nationals. Lunch will invariably be a sandwich at my desk if I'm not out meeting contacts. Then some emergency travel document authorisations, management tasks with my team, planning a prison visit perhaps. I may

Simon Taylor and his team cover the whole of the south east of France from Marseille, including Monaco and Corsica

respond to an urgent letter from a member of the public. I usually leave the office around 6pm and head home if I haven't got an invitation to an event such as a reception to meet our new Préfet or an event involving the British community. Wow. That's a busy day. What do you most enjoy about your job? Being able to help and make a difference to British nationals who have suffered tragedies in usually dramatic circumstances. What do you least enjoy? Dealing with cases of serious injury or death involving children or young people. What is the most important

piece of advice you could give to a British expat coming to or living in France? Thoroughly research your destination and have a plan B. Learn French. And check out our on-line information at www.gov.uk/living-in-france How often do you manage to visit the Var and the other PACA regions? With my team of two in Marseille, we cover the whole of the south east of France including Monaco, Corsica, and the French Alps. (We organised a reception for the British community in conjunction with the Mairie de Nice in November which the Ambassador attended.) I'd like to visit more and am

Totally bilingual from the age of two EIB International schools in Nice, Cagnes and Pégomas are an ideal solution

t's what every parent wants for their child: the opportunity to learn to speak two languages fluently and at an age early enough that they are unlikely to lose that ability in the future. EIB International schools do exactly that - offering a genuinely 50% French / 50% English curriculum to children from the age of two through to CM2 (age 10). Certified by the National Education System since 1982, EIB offers a reinforced French academic programme, with the number of hours of

instruction in French, mathematics and history being identical to those in French state schools. The English programme follows a curriculum based on those proposed by Anglophone teaching establishments. The result is that pupils learn both languages in a totally natural way, through full immersion with certified Anglophone and native French teachers. The programmes can be adapted to different levels to suit a child's proficiency, and individualised instruction and

Students have the opportunity to take part in a host of exciting activities

The international EIB schools offer a 50% French / 50% English curriculum to children from the age of two to secondary

upgrading courses are available to children who arrive not speaking either language. It is also a Cambridge ESOL examination centre and can prepare pupils for the Starters - Movers - Flyers certificates. Art, music and sports are all included in the multi-disciplinary curriculum depending on the age of the child.

They also organise afterschool activities and activities in the Mini Club Happyland on Wednesdays and during school holidays. In addition, EIB also has a secondary school in Nice, Collège & Lycée Lafayette. For more information, visit their website which is available at: www.ecolesbilingues.fr

working on it. What have been the most significant changes you have seen over the past five years working with the British Embassy? With tight public resources we have had to adapt and do more with less. We now work very much as a team with our colleagues based in Paris and Bordeaux. What has been the strangest request for help you have received? I have been asked lots of strange things. One of my favourites was a request for a list of English-speaking kennels. With the enormous boost in budget travel, and hence the increased accessibility of France to the British population, has the consulate seen an increase in demand for its services? Absolutely. We have seen a sustained increase in the number of assistance cases as well as peaks in demand for emergency travel documents.

Now, something a little different… If you had one hour to do whatever you liked, what would it be? Horse riding. What is your favourite local dish? Pieds et Paquets (a Marseille speciality made of sheep belly and feet, simmered in a white wine and tomato sauce). What is your favourite French wine? Gigondas (an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) wine from the southern Rhône wine region). If you could only listen to one song on repeat while at work, what would that be? 'I did it my way' by Frank Sinatra. What kind of animal would you be and why? A dog - my dog has the best life ever! What was the proudest moment of your life? When my two sons left home! Where do you see yourself in five years? Hopefully in Marseille. Cassandra Tanti

Arrested abroad If a British national is arrested or detained in France, it is important that they contact their embassy as soon as possible. The consulate will contact them within 24 hours and try to visit them as soon as possible. The British consulate can offer the following help: • provide general information about the country, prison conditions and the local legal system (including if legal aid is available) • provide a list of local lawyers and interpreters • tell the police or prison doctor about any medical or dental problems with the arrested person's permission • help with complaints about the police or prison (eg, ill treatment, personal safety, discrimination) with the arrested person or prisoner's permission • send money to the arrested person from their family • send messages between the arrested person and their close family • put the prisoners in touch with the charity Prisoners Abroad • help British prisoners apply for a transfer to UK where possible • visit prisoners when needed What the British consulate cannot do: • get someone out of prison or detention • help someone get special treatment • offer legal advice, start legal proceedings or investigate a crime • pay for any costs as a result of being arrested • forward packages sent by friends or family to an arrested person or prisoner • prevent the authorities from deporting a British national after their release. www.gov.uk/living-in-france

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Further to the right

Conviction overturned Former mayor of Vence to face 3rd trial

Continued from front page...

Marine Le Pen, who took over in 2011, has since been trying to do away with that image, keeping neo-Nazi militants away from FN rallies during the 2012 presidential campaign and threatening to sue anyone who calls the FN an extremist right wing party. Reports continuously surface, however, of links between FN politicians and the far right - sometimes neo-Nazi groups. As recently as last month, it was discovered that Châteauroux municipal elections candidate Bastien Durocher had a Waffen-SS tattoo. He was ousted from the campaign, but only following a media outcry. Nevertheless, according to a 2013 study by polling group TNS Sofres, a third of the French population agrees with the FN's core values, with 54% of the population supporting the statement that there are too many immigrants in France. Echoing this position held by over half of all French people, Nice's Christian Estrosi, who is dominating the polls for his re-election, called for a referendum on immigration last month, following Switzerland's lead in tightening their borders. He told France 2 TV news a

referendum should be held on 25th May 2014 - the day the results of the European elections will be announced. His reasoning being that "the problem is primarily a European one with the Schengen rules, which are very unfavourable for France." Estrosi's remarks came on the same day Le Pen made similar proposals on Les Echos TV, invoking the "right of the people" to have control over their borders. The Côte d'Azur has the third largest immigrant

population in France - nearly half a million, or one tenth of the region's overall population - according to a 2009 census. A tightening of the borders, as proposed by Estrosi, would affect mostly north African populations (42% of the region's immigrants), but would also have an impact on other non-European citizens who represent a further 23% of foreigners. With several right of centre candidates competing against one another in many cities such as Fréjus where there are

four mainstream right wing candidates - votes are likely to be scattered. It is yet unclear whether that will benefit the FN or the less divided left. One of Hollande's main and most controversial presidential campaign promises was to give nonEuropeans the right to vote in local elections. He has postponed that issue until after the 2014 municipal elections, however, following accusations by the UMP he’s trying to divide right wing voters between the UMP and the FN. "I don't want to give the impression that, before the municipal elections, we're trying to use the issue of foreigners' voting rights to maintain any kind of misunderstanding," he said. But some foreign citizens can still weigh in on the ballot boxes in the upcoming municipal elections taking place on 23rd and 30th March, namely European citizens, provided they were registered prior to December 2013. That is not to say that nonEuropean foreigners are entirely excluded from the democratic process - they can have an impact by influencing others to take that crucial vote. Stan Aron

Paris court has quashed the conviction of former mayor of Vence Christian Iacono, who was sentenced in 2011 for the rape of his grandson. The ordeal is still not over; Iacono will face a new trial - his third - but without the testimony of his alleged victim, who withdrew his claims following the sentencing. Convicted in Nice in April 2009 and on appeal in February 2011 in Aix, Christian Iacono has consistently maintained his innocence, denying any "inappropriate gestures" towards his grandson Gabriel. After a 14-year ordeal, the 79-year-old learned on 18th February that the court of review will uphold a decision to cancel his prison sentence of nine years. "We will now prepare for the third trial to finally get an acquittal," said his lawyer Gilbert Baudoux before a swarm of press in Paris. An unusal occurence It is a rare loss for prosecutors. Since 1945, only eight convictions have been overturned after a review process, including one of a sexual nature in 2011. For 11 years, Gabriel Iacono claimed he was raped by his grandfather between 1996, when he was five, and 1998. When Gabriel first made the

accusation in 2000, Christian Iacono was the UMP mayor of Vence. The councilor declared his innocence, but the accusation was enough to lose him the municipal elections in 2001. In April 2009 he was sentenced to nine years in prison, and despite the rape claims being withdrawn in May 2011 by the alleged victim, an unsuccessful appeal saw him return to jail in November of that year. He was released in April 2012 after a total of 16 months behind bars since July 2000. Accuser baffled Gabriel Iacono staged a hunger strike in February 2012 after prosecutors appealed a decision to set the former mayor free. He called for "the immediate and final freedom" of his grandfather. "I don't understand the determination of the prosecution," he told reporters at the time. The former mayor is still not allowed to speak to the press, but during an address to the review board in early February, Iacono reportedly said he doesn't hold any animosity towards his 22-year-old grandson, who reportedly lied to attract attention from his divorcing parents and then was convinced that his story was real by a series of doctors. Cassandra Tanti

Clarity and consistency Exclusive interview with Minister of Finance and the Economy Jean Castellini on Monaco’s future

ast time we interviewed Jean Castellini in 2008, he was secretary general of the CCAF (Commission de Contrôle des Activités Financières). It was the Principality's first independent body of its kind at a time when Monaco was in the throes of modernising and invigorating the financial sector. It was also the start of a period that saw Monaco taken off the OECD's black list of countries deemed to be "uncooperative" over tax matters, and a drive towards greater transparency. The doom-mongers predicted the end of Monaco as we know it, that people would leave in droves if they thought their tax status would be under scrutiny - so what in fact has happened? First, a little background on Mr Castellini, Minister of Finance and the Economy since December 2012. Having worked 18 years in the financial sector in California, Frankfurt, London and Paris, Mr Castellini returned to Monaco in 2004. The father of two speaks four languages fluently (French, English, German and Italian). After two years with the CCAF, and having helped establish its credentials, the "private sector man" in him itched to return and he left in September 2009 to spend three years as CEO of Safra Bank, where his skills from having worked on the "other side of the regulatory fence" proved very useful. When the call came from the Sovereign Prince Albert II offering him the post of Minister of Finance and the Economy, taking over from Marco Piccinini, he did not

hesitate to accept - "it is an honour", he told the prince. So what is his main task? As for his predecessor, his remit and the Prince's 'Road Map' have not changed since 2008. Stability and focus He describes two key targets: "Firstly, having sound public finances and a situation at home which helps preserve, if not reinforce, Monaco's attractiveness [see panel below - ‘In the black’]. To help establish the true image of what Monaco stands for today - a country open to the world, committed to fulfilling its obligations, notably since 2009, regarding tax and financial matters."

In the black In 2013, total revenue stood at 945.1 million euros, up 5% on 2012, mainly due to more VAT-generated revenue (a healthy indicator in Monaco), and income generated by the state (215.2 million euros) and administrative departments. Although final figures on total expenditure have yet to be confirmed, the government forecasts a surplus of 10 to 15 million euros. In his mind, it's a "virtuous circle" - a country with sound public finances is seen as an attractive and stable place; people come, spend money, set up businesses, create jobs, buy real estate and pay the duties this involves, all of it generating VAT which, in Monaco's case, represents over 50% of state revenue. "Investors need to know things are not going to change," he insists, "that there is institutional security here as well as physical. The prince has

a vision and we have time to implement his road map. This long-term focus is what investors are looking for when they come here." Fiscal transparency The second target is Monaco's place on the international stage. Since 2009, the Principality has signed 30 bilateral treaties, either TIEAs (Tax Information Exchange Agreements) or DTAs (Double Taxation Agreements) and is set to sign the OECD's multilateral convention in June/July. One with Britain is due to be agreed upon in the coming months, but as the minister says, "Working within a framework protects tax payers' rights much more than if the situation is not clear." There will be no "fishing expeditions" - the UK's tax authorities need concrete evidence of possible tax evasion before they can approach for information on an individual. Convinced by the path The finance minister is keen to stress that in the OECD's compliance with international standards and fiscal transparency ranking, Monaco is on the same level as the USA, UK, Germany and Italy. "There are four levels, 1 to 4. We are 2," said Mr Castellini. "We are now on a par with major western democracies in the eyes of the OECD. We have come a long way in a very short time; from the start we were serious and convinced that this was in the best interest of Monaco." And how right they were [see panel right on population statistics]. Far from being put off, people are drawn to Monaco knowing where they stand - "consistency and clarity" are the key words here.

Financial sector In 2008, a study by Bain & Company said 60 companies and 700 professionals were required over the next 10 years to meet the 2016 target of having 170 billion euros under management by 2016. So where are we at now? The minister says that although the number of institutions is on the rise, there are fewer banks, as in the rest of the world, but the overall mix (non-European origin, smaller private banks, asset managers, hedge funds, etc.) is helping meet the target to be as "onshore as possible". Due to the global crisis, Monaco is not likely to meet the 170 billion euro target (currently 100-110 billion euros are under management). The challenge today, he believes, is for financial institutions to communicate better to convince residents and investors that they can bank in Monaco.

It's working! Population stats end of 2013 • +693 more foreign residents, compared to emigration effect of -333 in 2009. • Number of foreign nationals over age 16 living in Monaco = 24,992, of which 80% are from the European Economic Area (EEA). • 128 nationalities: French (8,179), Italians (5,804), British (2,358). * Total population: 36,000 with Monegasque nationals Proof of quality Part of this drive is the development of a professional certificate that has just 'gone live' with a course being run by the International University of Monaco. The curriculum is

Minister of Finance and the Economy Jean Castellini: “Investors need to know that things are not going to change.”

available in French and English, and has two parts: the first is the "technical" aspect that some may not have to take if they already have an equivalent qualification from their own country. But the second part on local legislation and ethics is mandatory - "it is in everyone's best interests." Other sectors Monaco actually has a very diverse economy, which has helped it ride the global crisis. "If you look at GDP revenue, yes we have sectors like finance, real estate and tourism that immediately come to mind, but there's a raft of other industries accounting for a good 10%," says Mr Castellini. "In terms of state revenue - VAT, corporate tax and duties on real estate transactions account for about two thirds." 10 years down the road Monaco continues to open up to the world, with initiatives like a Year of Russia in 2015 and Chinese New Year celebrations (2014). "We are fascinated by these big countries with thousands of years of history, but amazingly they are fascinated by us! We are as small as they are big and yet

we are very stable. Monaco always tries to stay at the forefront but at the same time remain true to what we are." Asked how he sees Monaco in 10 years' time, as a Monegasque, Mr Castellini says: "We will still be true to the political and institutional model that has made our success for centuries, but we will also be richer from the foreign influences that will have contributed to Monaco's future prosperity." Space is clearly an issue and there are likely to be additional tower blocks. He envisages more of an amphitheatre effect with the highest buildings on the outer border, while the land extension at Portier will be low (maximum 10 storeys) "the closer to the sea the lower the buildings," he believes. To conclude, Mr Castellini has a strong message for foreign nationals: "Their rights will be more protected than they've ever been before, through the image Monaco projects onto the international stage, and their input valued more than ever, as the bridges between Monegasques and foreign nationals become stronger." Claire Lathbury

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Centre de Presse

Business startup competition launched

The Monaco government welcomed the ambassador of Ireland on 30th January, as he presented his credentials to HSH the Sovereign Prince. Rory Montgomery (4th from left) joined the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs in 1983 where he was responsible for European issues. He was then appointed to Rome and Chicago. During the 90s, he worked on the peace process in Northern Ireland and helped negotiate the peace agreement. He then became director within the European Union Division of the Irish Government. He was joined by the Ambassador of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Mariola Bindang Obiang (5th left) and the Ambassador of Serbia Rajko Ristic (to her right).

FOR NEARLY 20 years now the JCEM (Jeune Chambre Economique de Monaco) has held an annual competition with a generous cash prize for the best business plan/start up in the Principality. Aimed at entrepreneurs under 40, this year's contest has yet another advantage to offer today's budding leaders of tomorrow. Candidates have until 1st June 2014 to submit their application. The 10 finalists will then benefit from a special training course provided by the IUM (International University of Monaco) to help them finetune their pitch before it goes through to the final stage of the competition. The course will concentrate on how best to present their plan to attract those allimportant investors. At stake is a first prize offered by the Monaco government of 40,000 euros and a second prize presented by the JCEM of 21,000 euros. The prize-giving ceremony is on 13th November 2014 at the Monaco Business fair in the Auditorium Rainier III at 6.30pm, and will be attended by Minister of State Michel Roger. For more information call the JCEM +377 92 05 20 19.

Rolex Masters at the top of its game

afael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the top two tennis players in the world, have confirmed their presence at the upcoming 2014 Monte Carlo Rolex Masters. Last year, the tournament matched its 2012 record for the largest audience ever, and it may soon reach full capacity. Last year's edition had as many as 127,000 people at the event. And according to tournament director Zeljko Franulovic, it won't get much bigger: "Our attendance is always between 125,000 and 130,000. Beyond that, we would have security problems, so we're not aiming to go over 130,000. That's the limit." With the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters at full capacity, organisers aim to improve the quality of the experience for their spectators. "In the past we weren't ready for big numbers of people coming at the same time," Franulovic told The Riviera Times at a press conference on 5th February. "Our site is pretty crowded, and if we don't let the people enter and exit comfortably, there is a problem," said the director. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the current top two players in the game, were among the first to confirm their presence at this year's

Director Zeljko Franulovic won the Monte Carlo Masters in 1970

tournament, which is set to take place between 12th and 20th April. After winning the Rolex Masters eight times in a row, Nadal was beaten by Djokovic in 2013. With an impressive track record this year, the two players remain favourites for the upcoming edition. But according to the tournament director, Stanislas Wawrinka is not to be discounted. "I would not be surprised at all if he would be one of the finalists," he said, pointing out that the Swiss has had a great start to the season. Roger Federer, said to be the greatest player of all time, will take more time to confirm, but Franulovic

described their first contact for this year as "very positive". The Rolex Masters' longstanding director, who was himself among the top 10 male tennis players in the world, is also keeping an eye out for the next generation of champions. "There are young players who already beat these great players: Dimitrov, Raonic, Nishikori, or some others. Why not an Italian? Fognini was in the semis last year. To win a tournament, that's another story." The world's top players have until 18th March to sign up for the tournament, and the line-up will be announced on the 19th. Stan Aron

Understanding financial markets and private clients For CMB, Private Banking is as much about market know-how as understanding the client

ADVERTORIAL

ow interest rates are characterising current financial markets. They result from the financial crisis and the decision of central banks to counter the asset price deflation resulting from the burst of the subprime bubble. Central bankers are enacting a low interest policy with outstanding measures to inject liquidity in financial markets, known as quantitative easing. For conservative investors, it has become challenging to find attractive returns. Compagnie MonĂŠgasque de Banque (CMB), recently distinguished by the famous financial magazine Euromoney as Best Local Private Bank in Monaco 2014, is confronted every day with client requests searching for attractive yields. Right after the crisis, corporate bonds and, in particular bank debt, were offering investment opportunities, as the confidence in the system was shuttered by the failure of Lehman Brothers.

Since then, the supporting measures granted by governments to many banks have largely alleviated that risk, reducing the yield pick-up on those securities. For a time, with Mario Draghi's commitment to support debt of peripheral states in Europe, commonly known as PIGS (Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain), in October 2012, investors flocked to buy bonds of those states. Here also the yield pickup is now less. Werner Peyer, CEO of CMB, says: "We do notice a widespread tendency to climb up the risk ladder in an inconsiderate manner, just to obtain more yield." This means, in practice, that an investor who previously bought only high quality bonds may now accept to invest into riskier securities. He adds: "An investor should be conscious of the increased risk he carries, when choosing higher yielding instruments." At CMB, in line with the bank's proven conservative approach,

A selection of CMB's international Private Banking team: (from left) Nicolas Malouf - native English speaker, Carl-Christian von Habsburg-Lothringen - native German speaker, and Andrew Beresford Davies - native English speaker

a focus has been put on developing a product aimed at an optimised risk approach. Low rates do not allow for positive returns on term deposits, so the bank is offering CMB Dual Currency Notes to its multi-currency clients. It works like the combination of a term deposit and a foreign exchange option,

sold to enhance the return. The added risk taken by the investor is to be reimbursed in the currency on which the put was sold, if that currency depreciates below a certain level against the currency of the note. In addition, the bank has launched a fund with a fixed maturity, paying a coupon,

investing into a diversified high yield bond portfolio. To optimise the risk profile of the investment, the fund, labelled Monaco Horizon 2018, is investing in 70 different issuers, with an active management of the portfolio by one of the best of breed managers in that field. The statistically higher default risk for high yield bonds is diversified in the best possible way and actively managed. CMB's latest product is a high dividend yield equity fund. This product, for sure, shares the common features of equities. Focusing on investments in high yielding stocks with a sustainable cash flow pattern, the fund, though exposed to a short-term risk of a fall in prices, does nonetheless deliver an attractive income. Very recently, after the good market performance of late, Compagnie MonĂŠgasque de Banque has put a focus on alternative investment strategies in asset

allocation, with qualities of decorrelation and the capacity to hedge against market falls. CMB can proudly show its fund of hedge funds, Monaco Hedge Selection, having weekly liquidity, the first of its kind set up under Monaco Law, with an outstanding performance during the downturn of 2008-2009. Mr Peyer concludes that for CMB, the development of expertise is core; as much as the development of the capacity to best understand the needs of its international clientele. In this sense, CMB is developing its Private Banking team, not only with a focus on expertise, but also with the aim to provide the bank's clients with relationship managers who are native speakers in different languages and understand the clients' culture, their needs and expectations. Compagnie MonĂŠgasque de Banque. 23 avenue de la Costa 98000 Monaco. Tel. + 377 93 15 77 77. cmb@cmb.mc

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Solar1 Monte Carlo Cup launch Monaco to host first ever solar powered boat race on the sea in July - open to all From the year 1904, the world's budding automotive industries flocked to Monaco to trial the latest developments in combustion engine technology in powerboat races on the sea, the sea being safer than trialling them on the roads. Now, more than 100 years later, the Principality is the scene of another much greener revolution. A month after the opening of its new building in June 2014, the Yacht Club de Monaco is to host what has to be the most innovative event in its nautical calendar for 2014. Speed boats from around the world powered only by the sun, including a first ever 'onedesign' category, are set to battle it out in Monaco from 10th to 12th July 2014. Launched by Sergei Dobroserdov, CEO of Solar 1, in February, the event has already attracted 25 entrants who will compete in three contests in front of the Fairmont Hotel/ Grimaldi Forum area: a fleet race round two buoys, a slalom race and finally a one-on-one drag race between two buoys. A real spectacle is promised, as organisers have booked the impressive 31m Planet Solar vessel to be the jury boat. Armed with 537sqm of photovoltaic panels, she went around the world in 585 days powered by the sun, arriving back in Monaco in May 2012.

While this is not the first solar boat race to take place worldwide, it will be the first time many will race on the open sea. It is also the first time there will be a one-design category, with contestants competing on the same level, in the shape of the V20 from Solar1's technical partner the Dutch company Vripack. Limitless free fuel At just under 20-foot in length, the V20 is designed to fit snugly into a standard container (20-foot equivalent) ‘with workshop’, making it easy to transport. It features adjustable hydro-foils that lift it out of the water to reduce water-resistance so the solar power is used purely for speed. According to the company's Design Director Bart Bouwhuis, it can do 35km/h "easily" and when tested here in Monaco last August he said the panels generated so much power they could have "gone on racing indefinitely". Marnix Hoekstra, director,

The Solar1 Monte Carlo Cup will be the first time many will race on the open sea. Photo credit: Maria Povecerovska

added: "The sea trials in August left us in no doubt that solar boats are capable and seaworthy enough for tough races! Understanding how they work is all part of the education process which we aim to integrate into this event." Promoting solar energy is what the Solar1 Monte Carlo Cup is all about. Also planned is a Solar Village of stands showcasing technology, a solar boat model race for the children and a conference.

"The solar power industry is expanding at such a rapid pace that it was crying out for an event of equal magnitude to unite and represent its stakeholders. Not only do solar boat enthusiasts have an unrivalled opportunity to display their engineering talents but they can also compete equally well with both the vertically integrated energy companies and ambitious young students," said Sergei Dobroserdov.

BorgWarner to close factory in Monaco

he axe has fallen on 153 employees in Fontvieille’s industrial area who will be out of a job this time next year. Automotive parts supplier BorgWarner is to close its facility in Monaco in a decision described as “unavoidable” by the company. Employees took to the streets several times last month to protest. One pointed out that considering the average age is 45 to 55 years old, it’s a difficult time in life to find a new job and too early to take retirement. The Monaco government has asked the company to “go beyond” their obligations, both in terms of severance

packages and helping workers find other jobs. For its part, the government will allow all 153, regardless of where they live, to sign up at the job centre in Monaco. The redundancies will be made in phases with the last to go in early 2015. It’s a blow to Monaco’s small but significant industrial sector. It was part of a strategy started with Prince Rainier III in the 1970s, after Fontvieille had been built, to diversify Monaco’s economy. According to IMSEE (Institut monégasque de la statistique et des études économiques), in 2012 the industrial sector grew 2.6% in terms of turnover, accounting

for nearly 8.5% of the Principality’s revenue, but the number of employees and hours worked was down 2.2%. The total number of employees stood then at 3,146 of whom 93% were French or Italian, and the number of employers at 111. The global crisis took its toll on the sector as companies restructured, with some making redundancies, including another automotive parts supplier, Mecaplast, that had to let go of 85 people last year. The silver lining is that the BorgWarner closure will release some 4,750sqm of coveted commercial space to the Principality.

International polo tournament set for July A new school at the Monte Carlo Polo Club, at the Devens Sports complex in Beausoleil, was inaugurated in December, with a friendly demonstration tournament involving international teams. Club President Francesco Mitrano has now revealed that thanks to the success of the first Monte Carlo Polo Club Diamond Cup Tournament, a second major tournament is set for 2014 in July. "Polo is very popular in Europe," he says. "It helps channel young adolescents’ energy."

According to the YCM's Secretary General, Bernard d'Alessandri, "It is a very exciting project as it involves a major shift and a very practical innovation to take the yachting industry forward. I am thrilled that it will attract many young people to the Principality, as this new generation is clearly very involved and concerned about technical advances that will help safeguard our planet." Claire Lathbury

AS Monaco tax status resolved - or is it? AT THE end of January, AS Monaco FC announced that it had reached agreement with French football league body LFP that guarantees its continuing participation in the league without having to be domiciled in France and subject to its tax laws. The LFP (League de Football Professionnel) had announced in March 2013 that all clubs participating in the leagues should have their company offices in France, a direct reference to Monaco. The issue of ASM’s status in the league has long been a thorn in the side of other clubs, as the Principality’s taxfriendly regime inevitably gives it an edge when it comes to salaries it can afford to attract major players. Under the agreement with the LFP, the Monegasque club is to pay a voluntary contribution of 50 million euros in instalments. However, not everyone is happy. A couple of weeks later it was reported that seven clubs, including arch rival and Ligue 1 leader Paris SaintGermain, have decided to contest the settlement and the Monaco club is furious. Watch this space!

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Property series: La Môle Reasonable prices and country living at this inland oasis

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Major real estate shake-up Continued from front page...

Changes between tenants and landlords The period of notice to vacate is reduced to one month in these 'tension' areas. Deposits will be returned within one month instead of two, and withholding of deposits will attract 10% interest per month. Also, gone are the significant 'agency fees' for tenants, they will now be charged to the owner. However, certain drafting fees will be shared between the two parties. Property managers reform This comes in two parts. Firstly, property managers will be regulated as to what they can charge for. Currently, a Syndic charges a yearly contract fee for day-to-day running of a building and adds on fees that

are outside basic administration. Under the new law, there is a regulated list as to what the managers and agencies can charge for. The same applies for rental agencies who, like the Syndics, will see their charges regulated and new restrictions will mean that agency fees will drop. Secondly, they will have to open a separate bank account for each property they manage. At the time of going to print, the Loi Duflot had not passed the Senate. Therefore, it is possible that some changes have been made to the above information. Read The Riviera Times' April edition for a detailed story on how this new law will affect you. Cassandra Tanti

New builds industry slump

An aerial view of La Môle, showing the village lying amongst the unspoilt countryside in the heart of the Massif des Maures, close to the Verne dam. Prices here are lower than Cogolin to the east, also inland, because La Môle is more off the beaten track. Photo: E Bertrand TDR

nd so we come to the final commune in our tour of the 12 making up the Communauté du Golfe de Saint Tropez. La Môle, covering over 45,000 hectares, lies inland north of Rayol Canadel at the edge of the Dom Forest in the heart of the Massif des Maures. To the north, the peaks of Teissonnières (329m), Avelan (334m) and Sainte Magdeleine (285m) form part of a compact and wooded massif; the narrow Verne valley below widens out where the river joins the Môle into an alluvial plain oriented east-west and just 500m wide. A monastery, the Chartreuse de La Verne, was founded nearby in 1174. More recently, the Verne has been dammed and supplies drinking water to inhabitants of the Pays des Maures and around the Saint Tropez Gulf. The reservoir - no bathing or fishing here - has become a haven for aquatic wildlife. You can also walk, ride or mountain bike along country paths around the dam. The late 19th century village church has a typical Provencal small steeple, clocheton; and the war memorial was built in

serpentine, the local green country stone. Since the 1980s, the population has increased significantly (244 in 1800, 980 in 2011) with the construction of the nearby Moulin Roux housing estate, and the village itself has been substantially enlarged with the opening of the Clos des Vignes in 2004, the Sainte Magdeleine estate in 2007 and the Saint Exupéry small business park in 2009. (In his childhood, the author of Le Petit Prince spent holidays with his grandparents near the ancient Provencal château, a kilometre from La Môle.) Small terraced houses in the old village, with or without little gardens and maybe in need of some renovation, sell from 350,000 to 400,000 euros, says Lucie Borges at Anaïs Immobilier. Modern developments with swimming pool like the Clos des Vignes are ensembles of buildings made up of small adjoining houses; others also offer detached homes. Expect to pay around 300,000 euros and circa 400,000 euros for a detached property. Apartments, again of recent construction in small low buildings, sell for around 225,000 euros for circa 60 to 65sqm.

Financial Institution

Contact Thomas Nielsen Camilla Greiersen Camille Marne

Mike Lorimer

G, F DK E, S, N

actual new homes construction figure to around 279,000. Of this, 112,206 were individual houses and the remaining properties were apartments and homes for the elderly and disabled. The economic downturn is believed to still be contributing to the fall in new builds, as well as a recent reduction in tax breaks for investors, which have always been the motor for the new build housing sector. Aquitaine and Upper Normandy were the only regions in metropolitan France to experience an increase of 15.1% and 3.8% respectively.

This east-west facing modern 100sqm villa in La Môle features a pool and 600sqm of land. Asking price is 420,000 euros: Anais Immobilier

Prices here are lower than Cogolin to the east, also inland, because La Môle is more off the beaten track, excentré, and people have the impression it takes longer to get to and from work, says Mrs Borges. There are a fair number of second homes and the village is popular with British buyers. It operates year round - there is a small supmarket - although you go to Cogolin for shops and services. As is common with other communes, property prices are falling, according to Eric

M O R T G A G E en ok p S

NEW HOUSE BUILDS in France fell by 5.2% last year, but it is a marked improvement on 2012. According to figures by the Ministère de l'Écologie, du Développement Durable, the number of new builds dropped to 315,000 in 2013. That followed a significant fall in 2012 of 17%. The Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur experienced some of the highest level of activity, with 27,296 new builds, although that was down by 3.5% on the previous year. The numbers include the conversion and renovation of existing buildings. In 2012, around 36,000 homes were created from existing buildings, reducing the

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The various credit solutions are a part of our Wealth Management program. Please contact one of our local advisers in Cannes to see what a Wealth Plan can do for you and your future. Wealth management and life style planning through a 360 degree holistic approach established with your personal adviser based upon your current situation and future requirements to relocation plans, inheritance, taxation, investment, asset portfolio management, and daily Netbank services.

Tel: +33 (0)4 93 39 39 00 Fax: +33 (0)4 93 39 39 02 Email:info@jyskebank.fr www.jbpb.fr

Helo at Era Immobilier. His clients, primarily French, work in Cogolin, around the Gulf or elsewhere, and are attracted by the lower prices in La Môle. Top end properties are available; if you can afford 1.5 million euros, for example, for a 210sqm country villa with jacuzzi, pool, outbuilding and a hectare of land (Laforêt) you can presumably also afford to fly into the local aerodrome. If you cannot, La Môle offers more affordable prices in an unspoilt natural environment not too far from the sea. Carolyn Reynier

Tel: +33 (0)4 93 74 73 35 Mob: +33 (0)6 21 85 84 42 info@mikelorimer.com www.mikelorimer.com

Specialising in helping international clients obtain mortgages, re-mortgages and equity releases for French properties.

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Luxury real estate market bucks national trend While there are less ‘gems’, high-end properties are still the jewels of the Riviera The Riviera Times spoke to Jörg Buchen, CEO of Engel & Völkers Cannes-Cap Ferrat, about the state of the luxury real estate market, trends, hotspots, and where the industry is headed in the year to come. The number of property transactions taking place on the French Riviera continued to fall in 2013, with an average drop of nearly 10% reported by the real estate agency association FNAIM. Has this been the same for the luxury real estate sector? During the first four months of 2013, clients were very cautious and felt insecure. They therefore took much more time to come to a decision regarding a sale. The reason behind this is that in the luxury second home market, often neither the seller nor the buyer has to sell/buy, and people can just defer investing in a second home. So, the transaction volume dropped but this had little effect on the price level, which stayed stable in this particular category of the market. But this changed dramatically from May/June onwards - clients were much more active and started to purchase properties. It is a phenomenon we witnessed in 2007 in many markets throughout Europe and the US: due to an unstable political or economic climate, people feel insecure. This uncertainty changes - if the situation appears to become stable - after six to eight months and people start to move ahead again. Therefore, in the last quarter of 2013 and January 2014, the market is looking very positive. What separates the luxury real estate sector from the general property market in the French Riviera? The main difference is that for the luxury real estate market, there is a very international target group. Because of this, the number of properties in this range - 'hotspots' like Cap Martin, Cap Ferrat, Cap

Jörg Buchen, Managing Partner Engel & Völkers Cannes-Cap Ferrat

d'Antibes and Cannes etc. are limited, and there is a large number of search clients. In addition, we can see that due to the international nature of clients, demand depends on the economic development of individual countries. The general property market is divided into the first and second home markets, and depends therefore more on a national clientele, which was last year much more influenced by the French economy. But since the last quarter of 2013, many French clients returned to the market. It appears that the fall in demand has led to sellers dropping their prices. Have you seen this in the luxury market? Not really. In the top end of the market, we observe that prices are still going up. For example, we sold an apartment on the Croisette in Cannes for around 50,000 euros per square metre. In this category, with 'turnkey properties', buyers are still willing to pay at that price level. Nevertheless, buyers are still careful and compare. Has there been any new trends emerging in the past year, for example a new 'hot spot' to buy? Firstly, buyers are increasingly

This 760sqm property on land of approx. 2,025sqm, with seven bedrooms in St. Jean Cap Ferrat is on the market for 28 million euros

Côte d'Azur incomparable. Also, if you look at the top end of the real estate market, there is not really another comparable market in Europe, which will always have a positive influence on the rest of the luxury and upper real estate market. In 2009, there was a crash in the French Riviera's 'Trophy' property market, where luxury villas that were selling for exorbitant prices dropped to about a 10th of their sale price. Has this market returned, or is property much more realistically priced as a result of the financial crisis? There are still collectors on the market, but clients are a lot more fussy and selective now, so there are just a few properties that belong to this The view from one of the Riviera’s gems, located in St Jean Cap Ferrat league. Therefore, it's true that some estates are no longer Beaulieu and Villefranche) and Which country or city is our part of this 'group' and thus Cap d'Antibes, as well as the largest competitor when it their prices have dropped. As we can see worldwide, comes to luxury real estate? top locations in Cannes. Menton saw an increase in In the luxury market, Sardinia the clientele in the top end of overall real estate trans- and the Balearic Islands are the market is perhaps a bit actions, is this becoming a also beautiful spots. However, more selective than before, popular choice in the high- infrastructure, lifestyle and the especially regarding these 'annual season' make the unique estates. It's like art: a end market? preferring turnkey properties. In addition, Cap Martin and Cap d'Ail are becoming more popular. What locations remain most popular in this sector? The area between Monaco and Nice (Cap d'Ail, Cap Ferrat,

I believe there is a high demand in the mid-level, but not in the luxury market. In the luxury market, the clientele prefers to be near Monaco or Cannes. Therefore "location location, location" is more important than ever.

real collector might be willing to pay an extraordinary price for unique pieces, but only for unique pieces…not every painting from an artist will reach a certain price level. In comparison, not every big property on Cap d'Antibes or Cap Ferrat is a jewel. Who were the biggest buyers of luxury properties over the past 12 months? Eastern Europe is a very strong target group. Besides the Russians, there is a lot of demand from many other European countries. In addition, the northern European (Scandinavian, Swiss resident and English) are strong as well. In the past eight months, we have seen that buyers from the Middle East are back. Where do you see the next 12 months for the luxury real estate market in the Côte d'Azur? We foresee a positive development in 2014, and we see a stable and continuous movement of properties. Cassandra Tanti

Tax break for Monaco second home owners THERE'S GOOD news for residents of Monaco who have secondary residences in France. The Conseil d'Etat (Supreme Court or CE) in France recently announced that it upheld the decisions of lower courts regarding the inapplicability of the now infamous Article 164c of the French Tax code to Monaco residents. Article 164c effectively gives the tax authorities the right to assess owners of a secondary residence in France annual

tax based on three-times the estimated rental value of the property. "This always seemed like a very unfair tax," said Trevor Gabriel from Monaco Villas, "and the Conseil d'Etat used as a precedent a previous decision by the European Court of Justice that under EU rules the transfer of capital could not be hindered or stopped by any EU state.” He adds: "As the only court which could overturn a decision by the CE is the CJE,

the judgment is final. This has been confirmed by a number of lawyers and notaries in France and elsewhere." Gabriel says the French Fisque now have to repay those who’ve been assessed and have paid taxes, along with interest at 4.5% pa. "However, be warned that the exemption may not apply to residents of Monaco who rent a retreat in France for their own use, as there has been, effectively, no capital

movement in this case," said Gabriel. The news is likely to please a lot of current and future residents of Monaco, who already own or are thinking of buying a second home in France. It is expected to boost activity not only in the real estate market, but also with tax consultants. "Many believe that this decision could also affect the rate at which capital gains tax is charged," said Gabriel, "although this might take some time to ensue."

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25 years of connecting the global property market MIPIM: a key event for the world’s top real estate players

annes is once again hosting the largest and most prestigious real estate show from 11th to 14th March - MIPIM (Le marché international des professionnels de l'immobilier). Featuring an exhibition area, networking events and expertled conference sessions over a period of four days, the expo is a must for serious property professionals from across the globe. MIPIM brings together the most influential players from all international property sectors - office, residential, retail, healthcare, sport, logistics and industrial offering unrivalled access to the greatest number of development projects and sources of capital worldwide. It also gathers all players from the property value chain, from local authorities and urban planners to developers and architects, right through to asset managers, investors and brokers. There are four key aspects to MIPIM. Exhibitions, which

The Emporia building in Sweden is a finalist for the Best Shopping Centre at the MIPIM awards 2014 © DR

showcase large-scale projects and solutions from around the world, give attendees an opportunity to meet key international stakeholders, including investors. Conferences with expert-led programmes explore key industry trends, providing insight into finance and investment, cities and infrastructure, as well as key sectors and property hot spots. Networking connects key

players from the world's main investment areas with potential partners. And finally, a prestigious competition for the world's top real estate projects celebrates the most outstanding international projects at the MIPIM Awards. The majority of activity comes from investors, who represent almost 1,500 companies present at MIPIM. That's followed closely by developers and consultants.

But there are also law firms, corporate end-users, even hotel groups and retailers. France is the dominant country of origin, but the UK and Ireland are close behind with 3,386 participants, followed by Germany and Australia, the Nordics and Russia. 2014 MIPIM Awards Created in 1991, the MIPIM Awards is an internationally renowned real estate competition that honours innovation and excellence around the world. Finalists include the MAX IV in Lund, Sweden, for the Best Futura Project and the Tour Majunga in the French capital Paris for the Best Innovative Green Building. Mayors’ Think Tank Launched in 2009, the Mayors' Think Tank, is a closed-door summit dedicated to mayors and top political leaders. Around 80 international peers share their experiences, thoughts and best-practices during round-tables, according to a visionary topic defined by both a trustee committee and a line-up of international

The Parque Santa Lucia project in Mexico is competing for the Best Futura Project at this year’s MIPIM Awards © DR

partners. The conclusions of the discussions are delivered over a networking lunch joined by a selection of corporate end-users and property industry CEOs. The key findings are then published in a white paper and shared with the entire MIPIM and international real estate community. Roundtable moderators this year include Paul Bevan, who is Secretary General of EUROCITIES, Professor John Macomber Harvard Business School and William Tompson, Head of Urban Programme, Regional Development Policy, OECD. Quarter century celebrations In 2014, MIPIM celebrates its 25th anniversary with dedicated events, spaces and other

surprises. Kicking off MIPIM on 11th March will be an opening cocktail party at the Carlton Hotel. The following day a Solidarity Race will be held. The GDF SUEZ Act for Employment Foundation (FAPE) organises the race involving 100 MIPIM delegates who will run six kilometres along the Croisette and seaside to support job creation projects and occupational integration. That evening, on 12th March, an invitation-only Jubilee Concert will be held for 200 guests. Meanwhile, MIPIM will publish a 25 Years Collector Magazine featuring the most outstanding projects and players from the past quarter of a century. Cassandra Tanti

Strong demand for Caribbean investment Sycura International records a rising demand of new investors and applicants for the St. Kitts Citizenship by Investment Program

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t. Kitts and Nevis, also known in the country's constitution as Saint Christopher and Nevis, has been independent since 1983 and forms part of a group of islands known as the Lesser Antilles, located some 2,000 km to the southeast of Miami. St. Kitts and Nevis has a pleasant climate, particularly during the cooler months from December to March. Humidity is relatively low, and constant northeast trade winds keep the islands cool. St. Kitts and Nevis offers good opportunities for investors. The workforce is well-educated, English-speaking and friendly. The government grants tax breaks, guaranteed repatriation of profits and concessions on import duties. There are no income or capital gains taxes, no net wealth taxes and no inheritance or gift taxes in St. Kitts and Nevis. Sycura International is currently engaged, on an exclusive basis, to promote the commercialisation of a luxury five star beach front hotel resort in St. Kitts which entitles investors to apply for citizenship. It will be one of the finest hotels in the Caribbean, a

A St. Kitts and Nevis Passport allows travel visa-free to over 140 countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Schengen European countries and most British Commonwealth countries. The Federation is a member of the United Nations (UN), of the Organisation of American States (OAS), the British Commonwealth and many other international organisations. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has its headquarters on St. Kitts. It maintains the stability of

Investment in this luxury five star beach front hotel resort in St. Kitts entitles investors to apply for citizenship

relaxing and rejuvenating retreat ideal for enjoying a Caribbean vacation with the calmness of the Caribbean sea and soft golden sand. The first phase will be comprised of 125 rooms. This ultra-luxury resort will feature contemporary architecture with a colonial inspiration. The resort has been designated as an approved project by the Citizenship by Investment unit of the government of St. Kitts and Nevis. An investment in

this real estate project entitles buyers to high annual income and benefits associated with citizenship of St. Kitts and Nevis. The investment is guaranteed through an Escrow account. Other advantages are that the investor can retain their existing citizenship - dual citizenship is permitted - and the family can also obtain citizenship. An exit option provides the ability to realise capital gain and income

generation on this investment. In addition to the minimal tax burden, Kittian citizenship is surprisingly useful for globetrotting. In the Visa Restriction List, which ranks the countries where citizens can travel visa-free, Austria is 6th, St. Kitts and Nevis is 28th.

the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$), which is the national currency of most eastern Caribbean countries and is tied to the US Dollar. The Head of State is the Queen of England. St. Kitts and Nevis is a wellfunctioning democracy based on the British parliamentary

system and Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Llewellyn Douglas is the Prime Minister of the St. Kitts and Nevis government. Sycura International specialises in services for the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP), helping to guide a client through the process including the acquisition of real estate. Sycura International provides both client facing information resources and professional relationships throughout St. Kitts and Nevis to ensure the smoothest and most professional service, advice and assistance. Sycura International clients are wealthy individuals and families, as well as their advisors worldwide, who rely on our expertise and experience in this specialised area. Sycura International is partners with banks and institutions, and the network works closely with local authorities. We are able to provide our customers with a high level of service and products. All the information is available on the website: www.sycurainternational.com

BUSINESS & FINANCE

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Unemployment still soaring Local joblessness rise is almost double the national average The numbers are out. In one year, unemployment on the Côte d'Azur rose at a significantly higher rate than the national average. In December, unemployment increased both nationally and locally, despite President François Hollande's announcement two months ago that he had 'reversed the curve' of joblessness. Since January 2013, 'category A' unemployment rose 10.4% in the Alpes Maritimes, or nearly twice the national rate of 5.7%. In the Var, it increased by 7.6%. The PACA region overall recorded a 6.5% jump, the 6th highest increase out of the 22 regions in Metropolitan France, according to a study by Dares, a State funded research body. Unemployment in France is divided into categories, with A the most important - including the number of people registered as unemployed, looking for a job, who aren't practising any professional activity. Categories B and C are also registered jobseekers but working part time or as temps, while categories D and E are registered as unemployed but are not actively seeking employment. In the Var, a total of 80,024 people are registered as unemployed, which is roughly half the population of Toulon. In the Alpes Maritimes it's closer to 85,000.

The numbers aren't all bad for the Var, however, as it recorded a 0.1% decrease in category A during the month of December. But categories A, B and C when combined rose by 0.3%. In the Alpes Maritimes, category A was up 0.9% in December, three times more than the national 0.3% increase. Complex labour law blamed Unemployment has been steadily on the up since 2008 and has become a major issue in France. Jean-Marc Vittori, columnist for the business newspaper Les Echos, attributed this problem to the complexity of French labour law. "We never tried to simplify employment legislation, which is extremely complex. The French labour law is 3,406 pages long, as opposed to barely over 100 pages in Switzerland." Social charges are also an issue as they cost employers nearly as much as employee salaries. Two months ago, President Hollande was proud to

Equivalent of half Toulon’s population is unemployed in the Var

announce he had 'reversed the curve' of unemployment, as October recorded a category A unemployment decrease of 0.6% nationwide, and 0.4% in the PACA region. Categories B and C rose 0.8% during the same period, however. The following month, unemployment resumed its increase. Direccte PACA, the regional corporate and employment authority, attributed this dent in unemployment to seasonal jobs such as the vendanges tardives, the late grape and fruit harvests. The president is determined

to reduce unemployment, which he stated to be his top priority in his 14th January address to the country. As national media has noted, Hollande appears to be moving away from purely socialist policies towards a more centrist approach, as he talked about negotiations with companies to find better solutions for job creation. In a statement on 26th December, he pointed out that though it is still increasing, the rise in unemployment has been slowing down over the past year. Stan Aron

CMB voted best private bank FINANCE MAGAZINE Euromoney has awarded Compagnie Monégasque de Banque (CMB) the distinction of Best Local Private Bank in Monaco 2014. "With this award, we get the recognition of the exceptional quality and solidarity for our balance sheet, second to none, which we have always considered as a fundamental factor for our clients' trust, knowing that, at CMB, their assets are deposited safely and followed with care," said Mr Peyer, CEO of CMB. At the close of 2012, CMB reported a net profit of 49 million euros. The client's assets under management stood at nine billion euros and the outstanding financing volume at 843 million euros. The bank's capital stood at 565 million euros with a total balance sheet size of two billion euros. CMB is a Monegasque bank specialised in private banking with strong roots in the Principality, where it has been serving clients since 1976. "Our institution is particularly proud of this award," said Mr Peyer. "It recognises a philosophy of quality of service for banking.”

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Palais secures new events CANNES’ PALAIS des Festivals et des Congrès, famous for the Cannes Film Festival and various global trade shows, has announced six new major events for this year. Taking place mostly during the offpeak season, the large conventions will gather thousands of extra people in the city - a major boost for the local economy. Winter is usually not the best time for big business conventions, however this year’s calendar is packed full of major events during the offpeak season at the giant showroom. On 30th and 31st March, a Real Estate Congress will be held with 2,500 representatives expected. From 22nd to 24th September, ECOC Exhibition - the major European communication event in the ophthalmic optical market - is expected to fill the showroom with 4,500 people, generating around 9,000 hotel bookings in and around Cannes. Gathering over 1,000 professionals, the 59th Distripress Congress is an international meeting point for everyone involved in distribution and

marketing of newspapers and periodicals. The event will take place from 29th September to 2nd October. From 6th to 8th November, C10, the largest drinks wholesaler and distributor in France will hold an exhibition at the Palais, bringing together 1,200 people and 2,400 overnight hotel stays. GIF Group Convention, the European leader of kitchen installers, will gather around 1,000 people and will take place on 10th and 11th of December. There's good news already for the start of 2015, the annual congress of AMRAE, the corporate insurance and risk assessment association, will take place from 4th to 6th February 2015 - traditionally a very quiet time of year. For its 23rd edition, the congress will welcome 2,500 leading players in risk management which means 7,500 expected hotel stays for Cannes. The famous venue made around 34 million euros profit in 2012, greatly contributing to the local economy and indirectly supplying more than 17,000 jobs. Nicole Mercier

SKEMA achieves top accreditation SKEMA BUSINESS School has received the AACSB international accreditation, placing it among just 3% of global business schools who have been handed this important certification. "This achievement is the culmination and enhancement of five years of preparation and work by all members of the school and its community staff, students, alumni and partners," says Alice Guilhon, Director General of SKEMA Business School. AACSB accreditation evaluates the excellence of an institution, in particular the academic level of its faculty, the quality of its programmes, the relevance of its strategy and the means it has to implement it. "We are proud to receive this accreditation, as it rewards the wonderful dynamic of SKEMA. It represents the school's international recognition in the field of higher education and its visibility, strength and excellence on the world stage, " says Guilhon. In January 2009, SKEMA Business School launched the SKEMA China Centre in the heart of the Suzhou Industrial Park. This Chinese campus, as the school's first international site, accelerated the development of SKEMA's strategy for a multi-site structure, adding to the existing French campuses in Lille, Nice Sophia Antipolis and Paris.

In 2011, a second overseas campus was established in Raleigh, USA, making SKEMA Business School France's largest in terms of student numbers, including French and international students in China and the USA. When it first opened, the Chinese campus welcomed 127 students from just four countries. Now it welcomes over 700 French and foreign students every year with 14 nationalities on campus. Students can follow specialised programs on the socioeconomics of China, its culture as well as its commercial and management practices. Forging ties Over the past five years, close ties have been forged with local organisations in Suzhou, which have led, among others, to the creation of the largest incubator in Suzhou, co-founded by SKEMA Business School and SISED (Suzhou Research Institute Science & Education Development Co. Ltd). With its new campus, SKEMA hopes to launch new programmes in partnership with other Chinese academic institutions so they can be accredited by the Chinese Minister for Education. SKEMA also intends to create more opportunities for Chinese and international students to experience and master a multicultural environment, so as to meet the needs of Chinese companies.

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Tide has turned for superyacht industry Innovation and education key to maintaining momentum - but maybe not in China yet

he tide has turned but the industry must continue to innovate and educate to seduce new markets. This was a key message to come out of the Yacht Club de Monaco's 6th business symposium that was held at the end of January to take stock of what is happening in the yachting sector. Held under the La Belle Classe Superyachts label, the event attracted over 50 professionals from across the superyacht supply chain (shipyards, brokers, naval architects, bankers, lawyers, etc.) for a dinner debate chaired by YCM Secretary General Bernard d'Alessandri. Those present at the 2013 January symposium had noted then the beginnings of a recovery, since when some of the statistics quoted for the last 12 months were close to pre-crisis figures in terms of volume, with general agreement that yachts are bigger. Christelle Cavernes, Head of Yacht & Private Jet Finance at Société Général Private Banking (Monaco) who opened the debate, said in the last three years it has financed five yachts, average length 70m, and 2014 looks "promising" with six 40+m being considered.

In fact, as of 2nd January 2014 there were 735 yachts under construction worldwide, average length 40.17m, across 212 shipyards; the demand for yachts bigger than 30m having quadrupled in 30 years (Source: Boat International). Designer Espen Oeino confirmed that there has been a "significant recovery" in the last two to three years with an increasing demand for vessels over 100m. “Owners need to be patient as there are not that many yards capable of building 100m-plus yachts." Inevitably, the discussion focused on China's potential but persuasive statistics and with delegates speaking from hard-won experience, many agreed there are other markets to be chased down for the nearer future. Cultural issues Henrik De Vries, CEO of Feadship put it in perspective, comparing the number of newly ultra-rich people in 2012 and their propensity to buy a superyacht. In North America there were 151 with a 90% propensity to buy, while in Asia there were 185 with only a 6% propensity to buy. "Compare that to the Middle East and Africa where the figure is 21 with a 46% prop-

ensity to buy: they love them!" So where are customers really coming from? Luca Boldrini, Sales & Marketing Director for Italian shipyard CEN said it recently signed an order for a 68m for a Chinese buyer. "I wouldn't say

Paris) which is primarily in the new-build market, responded that it had a yacht built by CEN a few years ago. "There were no open decks - they had understood what was required and adapted their offer," was his comment.

The M/Y Ulysses, a Benetti 56 metre, managed by Fraser Yachts

there is a market there yet, but it's a first step," he stressed. A stumbling block is cultural, as Philippe Codd, Manager of BCTQ (Business Corlett Three Quays) which has done designs for the Asian market, explained: "There is a big cultural difference - they don't like the sun, the sea or the sand!" His question was "Are we as an industry embracing the market fully?" Andrew Charlier, from law firm Ince & Co (he's based in

Broker Eric Althaus added: "The new Chinese generation studying in Europe or the US are developing a culture for the sea that their elders do not have. But we will have to be patient before they start coming through." However, Bernard d'Alessandri pointed out the Chinese acquisition of shares in the Ferretti Group and last year the sale of Sunseeker to the Dalian Wanda Group, as well as shares in the San

Lorenzo shipyard: "It's a strong sign, as they are not just buying at random. They are looking ahead to the future," he observed. Education could be the key. As Theo Hooning, Secretary General of SYBASS (superyacht builders association) said: "Wealth is moving from areas where they know about superyachts to where they do not” and that the association was preparing a campaign to promote the superyacht lifestyle - the privacy, security and freedom it implies. Meanwhile, it appears much of the impetus now is coming from America. For example, naval architect Robin Macfarlane says his company is doing a lot of work in South Florida where canal dredging programmes are making a big difference to the demand for larger yachts. Other countries beckon Be it new-build or purchase of an existing yacht, more boats were sold last year - allbeit for less, but for Mark Duncan from Yachting Marketing International Group, it shows that "people want to buy - and not for an investment." He cited Russia and Turkey as strong markets for them. David Legrand from Fraser

Yachts also said their main prospects are mostly of Turkish nationality and represent more than 20% of their turnover in Monaco. For Bertrand Vogele, CEO of Seaminds “South East Asia, with Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia also represent an important market." The "green attitude" How to move forward - there is no doubt the environment is taking centre stage and the future lies in innovation. Robin Macfarlane says customers are asking him to make their boats "greener". He cites one who is spending two million euros on fuel as he does 20,000 miles a year: "We can do that easily - bulbous bows, changing the propeller they can make all the difference," he claims. And to conclude, Bouloumis Paris from Oceanco made a poignant point: "The truly eco-friendly green boat was invented thousands of years ago - it's called a sailing boat!" - and lo and behold they have two orders in hand for sailing yachts, one 80m and the other 100m. Maybe everyone should take a leaf out of that order book. Claire Lathbury

GOURMET

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The magic of Le Candille Journey to far away lands with Michelin star chef Serge Gouloumès

he fine dining Candille restaurant sits proudly in an 18th century villa, where once the great Napoléon Bonaparte was welcomed. Serge Gouloumès is a renowned Michelin star chef, who blends his love of spice with fresh market produce to create art on a plate. Yet in this elegant, five star dining room, high above the picturesque village of Mougins, it is accepted … no, it is encouraged … to lap up the last remaining morsel of sauce on the plate with your finger and exclaim "Wow".

Serge Gouloumès earned his Michelin star at Le Candille

Entering the gates of Le Mas Candille is like driving into a dreamlike world, one which started life as an olive and grape growing farm, and is now the most charming hotel, spa and, of course, restaurant. "We accept the customer who licks their plate clean," says Serge during a predinner interview, "when we get the 'wow' we are very excited."

It is hard to imagine such behaviour as we sit in the elegant entrance room with its regal fireplace, impeccably dressed barman and ornate period furniture. As I enjoy an aperitif of fresh salmon, steak tartare and 'mini croque monsieur', I wonder, 'surely a Michelin star chef with

30 years in the industry doesn't need the affirmation?' "There's a secret to being perfect," says Serge. "For us, it is so important to be deeply in love with what we do and be satisfied with the work when service is finished. "If it is a busy night, maybe one plate does not have the same drops of sauce than another, or the flower is slightly to the right. You, the customer, will not see it, but I will be so upset at the end of the evening." It is perfection on a plate, and each plate tells a story. "Some of my dishes come from the south of Italy, China or Japan. You are supposed to be travelling when you eat my cuisine, your tastebuds take you back." Succulent veal with a lightly spiced sauce made of lemongrass and ginger finished with a little cocoa milk to soften the heat, accompanied by baby carrot mash with ginger; Norwegian Skrei cod with Japanese black beans and foie gras 'royale'; caramelised monkfish in soya sauce with octopus petals in Mediterranean herbs… dishes that are

Seafood is the chef's preferred choice of produce because, as he says, it "accepts my fantasy"

am more of a fish guy than a meat guy." So I am elated to learn that scallops are in season and on the menu. They are seared and served with duck rillettes on toast, port beads and foam. "Serge is making my job difficult," I tell my dinner guest as I delight in the impeccably cooked scallops, "there are only so many ways you can describe something as perfect." Serge is always on the move, travelling to far away lands, hosting cooking lessons, appearing on television shows, writing cookbooks. Perhaps that's why he seems so down to earth - he doesn't have time to sit around and ponder how amazing he is. That is left to his guests. At Le Candille, there is a table for two positioned right in the kitchen for those who want a ‘front seat’ experience. "You feel part of the team at the During the revolution, this area was given the name ‘Candille’ meaning candelabra in Provencal dialect because beginning during prep, its impressive cypress trees are said to have served as a landmark for the Republican forces. Diners are able to then the atmosphere changes and after a few take in the sweeping views of Grasse and the Pre-Alps from the large terrace, a delightful summer escape minutes you don't talk far from traditional French that remains the same, year star Le Mas Candille gave him anymore, you are just part of in, year out: the Candille foie the opportunity to demon- the team, to the point that cuisine. "At the beginning we were gras apple tarte tatin with strate his knowledge of when I get an order, you say very good French cuisine, now Armagnac, finished in a rich gastronomy. Just four years 'oui chef'." It’s just another extrawe are high-cuisine with meaty jus. Each decadent later, Serge was rewarded with ordinary aspect of Le Candille; passion. It is not purely mouthful is pure joy, and I can a Michelin star. "I don't know how to do a a place where fantasy and imagine Napolean himself French, it is international." With each new year, and its relishing in this dish. It is then steak. I do a club sandwich, gastronomy are entertwined, accompanying seasons, comes that I find myself lapping up but with caviar or foie gras. I'm and the memories are etched a new menu at Le Candille. the tiniest puddles of sauce crazy about fish because most in your mind forever. Cassandra Tanti "Every year you have the same with bread, and in that seafood accepts my fantasy. I products but you have to find moment, I understand Serge The Riviera Times is giving away a dinner for two at ways of creating new dishes completely. Le Candille, valued at 250 euros! For your chance At 14 years of age, Serge with the same ingredients," to win, visit our website: www.rivieratimes.com says Serge. That translates to Gouloumès decided that he

early spring asparagus and asparagus purée with morel mushroom foam flavoured with Tio Pepe. I have never felt so inspired by asparagus in my life, and never so in love with morels. But there is always one dish

wanted to be a "star chef". His passion took him from Gascogny in southwest France to the Caribbean, Beverly Hills and Switzerland. He has headed some of the finest kitchens in France, and in 2001 the opening of the five

GOURMET

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NO. 1 FOR LOCAL NEWS

Finding Bistronomy restaurants in France Respected Michelin group releases latest value-for-money publication

t's not always easy to navigate your way around the French restaurant scene, given the huge number of options at your disposal. There are many outstanding chefs, but also a large number of less talented ones. Thankfully, there’s the Michelin group’s Bonnes petites tables, and the latest guide has just been launched featuring a selection of restaurants that offer good food at reasonable prices. "That is, after all, what people are looking for," said Michael Ellis, who is responsible for all Michelin guides worldwide. The US native with a French passport writes passionately about the ‘Bistronomie’ concept, although this is no longer exactly new. Where small is beautiful For some years now, an increasing number of chefs have been opening smaller branches of their restaurants where they are able to demonstrate their skills in a more relaxed atmosphere, offering smaller menus at more affordable prices. In addition, other ambitious chefs who have some understanding of their profession have recognised the current market trend and are offering high-quality menus in their

bistros or brasseries for no more than around 30 euros, while still promising their guests a very good dining experience. "Our Bonnes petites tables guide provides a selection of exactly these types of restaurants," said Ellis. Coups de coeur The ‘bible’ for price-conscious gourmets was established in 1997 and this year includes 650 such coups de coeur experienced by the Michelin testers. Some 61 of these restaurants are located in the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur (PACA) region. Ellis argues that these days it is more difficult than ever for a chef to operate in a costefficient way. As well as being a chef, they increasingly find that they have to also be good businessmen. This is a daily battle that some 100,000 restaurant operators all over France know only too well. Around 4,000 of them are lucky enough to be included in one of the most famous Michelin guides every year. The inspectors make their selections in as objective a manner as possible. They take reservations anonymously, eat without making notes or taking photographs, pay their bills in the proper manner and

Jacques Gantié’s

write their impressions up afterwards. They visit at least one restaurant or hotel restaurant every day for three weeks during each month and then spend a week compiling their reports in Paris. The restaurant testers are experts in their field with many years of experience. They are carefully trained by Michelin and spend the year discovering the best places to eat in France. Undercover all over Michelin does not disclose how many of these wellcamouflaged inspectors are operating throughout France, "but we receive numerous applications every year and only recruit a fraction of them," said Ellis. And this is the crucial point. "We are in the pleasing position of being able to pay the inspectors so that they are completely independent." They follow recommendations from readers and carry out their own research, as well as asking for tips from local bakeries, butchers and hoteliers." One of the new restaurants featured as a bonne petite table is based in Nice and proves that not all restaurants in the Old Town are simply tourist destinations. The cute little Comptoir du Marché is surrounded by tourist shops in the maze of narrow streets

in Vieux Nice and offers seasonal Mediterranean and meat-based dishes in two small rooms. Guests are also able to watch the very young team of chef Loïs Guenzati at work, as the open kitchen occupies a corner of the room. The 'Bistronomie' formula works well in Nice. "People spend a lot of their time outside here," said Michael Ellis, who now lives in Paris after many years in La Ciotat. "People like going out, but they then expect to get good cuisine for their money." The situation is more difficult in Cannes, according to one authority on the scene; rents are so high that restaurant prices are also automatically higher. All the right details Nonetheless, Cannes also has its bonne petite table; see the new guide for brief descriptions and symbols that clarify important factors such as the price of menus, the general ambience, extensiveness of the wine menu and the availability of an outdoor area. The guide includes 14 new recommendations in the PACA region, although eight restaurants that featured in the previous issue have been omitted. That includes six in the Alpes Maritimes. The guide is only available in French. Aila Stöckmann/Anne Morris

Restaurant recommendations Jacques Gantié is the author of the only regional restaurant guide, Guide Gantié, which is available in French in hardcopy, and electronically in English. It contains hundreds of great insider tips for eating out.

AUX CAPRICES DE CAROLINE Gourmet cuisine in the hills await those visiting this light and cosy restaurant, with piano and statues on the terrace by the road. Classic dishes and a gastronomy alert to other influences include perfectly cooked poached eggs, girolles in open ravioli, blette tart, superb roast filets of pigeon, scallops, buttered cabbage

and cepes. Menus follow the seasons with good ideas and three luncheon menu choices at 13, 19 and 27 euros. Set menus in the evening range from 27, 39 and 68 euros. Wine by the glass at 7 euros and bottles starting at 23 euros. LA GAUDE 221 rte de St-Laurent du Var Tel: 04 93 24 40 60

EVENTS

NO. 1 FOR LOCAL NEWS

01 Sat Theatre. 'Not Now Darling,' the famous farce performed by Ray Cooney and John Chapman. 8pm. The Mougins School. Info: bookings@rada.freeservers.com

weekends of racing, a ski event at Isola 2000, an art contest, and an exhibition of sculptures and paintings. Until 16/03/14. Info: sainttropez.fr St. Tropez (I)

Mougins (L)

09 Sun Run. Along the stunning views between the sea and the mountains at 11,19 or 30km lengths. Eze. Info : traileze-06.com Eze (O)

Philharmonic concert. Tchaikovsky violon concerto by Julian Rachlin and soprano Lydia Rathkolb. Mahler symphony no.4. Conducted by Philippe Auguin. 8pm. From 5 euros. Opéra Nice Côte d'Azur. Info: operanice.org Nice (N) International Games festival. Huge gaming display and showroom will welcome international champions and amateurs. Meet the authors, illustrators and publishers of your favourite games. Runs for two days. 10am. Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. Info: festivaldesjeux-cannes.com Cannes (L)

02 Sun Morning singing concert. Works by Mahler. Directed by Philippe Auguin. 11am. Opéra Nice Côte d'Azur. Info: operanice.org Nice (N) 03 Mon Flowery boat battle. Traditionnal pointus boats filled with local flowers in the Villefranche sur Mer harbour. 1.30pm. Port de la Santé and Place Amélie Pollonais. Info: villefranche-sur-mer.org Villefranche (O)

08 Sat Armen Festival. Art, sea and snow. The 37th edition of the festival combining sailing, art and skiing. The event will hold two

10 Mon Chamber Music. Bach sonatas on violin, cello, clarinet and piano. Wyner pieces on violin, cello, clarinet and piano. Hindemith quartet for violin, cello, clarinet and piano. 8pm. Opéra Nice Côte d'Azur. Info: opera-nice.org Nice (N)

International Women's Day. Celebrate the day with the inspirational film screening of 'Girl Rising,' by the Academy Award-nominated director Richard E. Robbins. The film will be followed by a lively interactive discussion. Profits go to the charity 'Girl Rising'. 6pm. From 10 euros. Banque Populaire Auditorium, Promenade des Anglais. Info : europeanpwn.net Nice (N)

12 Wed Theatre for children. The traditional tale of 'Hansel and Gretel', puppetry and storytelling by Liliane Grau. 3pm. From 6 euros. Opéra de Nice. Info: opera-nice.org Nice (N)

15 Sat Cat beauty contest Euro-Cat organises their 6th unique Cat Show in Saint

Raphael. Cats from all over the world are entered in this beauty contest with more than 200 cats per day. They will be judged by a panel of nine international judges. Runs for two days. 10am to 6pm. 5 euros. Palais des Congrès. Info: saintraphael.com St. Raphael (K) Concert Appletop indie rock concert. The band that have performed more than 150 concerts are back with their new album called 'Brave Mountains' , with its warm and moving pop

14 Fri A Retrospective. In celebration of their 20th anniversary, MonacoIreland Arts Society are holding an evening with the best of their work such as Jonathan Swift's 'Meditation upon a Broomstick', as well as tributes to Irish poets including Seamus Heaney and Oscar Wilde. 8.30pm. Auditorium du Collège Charles III. Info: monacoireland-arts.org

Antibes (M)

16 Sun Castle tour guide. Through a guided tour, enter the doors of the medieval fortress of Villeneuve Loubet, a rare example of medieval military architecture and discover a well preserved historical monument. Also on 30/02/14. 10am. Villeneuve Loubet Castle. Child 5 euros, adult 7 euros. Info: villeneuvetourisme.com Villeneuve Loubet (M)

music with melodies get under your skin. 8.30pm. CREPS des Lices. Info: toulon.fr Toulon (D) Ballet. 'Le Lac des Cygnes,' Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky, one of the most well known ballets in the world, is being performed in Nice by the Saint-Pétersbourg Ballet Théâtre. 8pm. From 28 euros. Nice Acropolis. Info: sudconcerts.net Nice (N)

Wrestling. The first major wrestling match in the Alpes Maritimes. An evening with six fights, expecting to fill the theatre with over 5,000 spectators for the first edition of the Etoiles du Catch. 8pm. From 10 euros. Azur Arena. Info: vert-marine.com

Opera. 'Adriana Lecouvreur', an opera by Francesco Cilea, the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Opéra de Nice, in four separate acts. Until 22/03/14. 3pm. Opéra de Nice. Info: opera-nice.org Nice (N)

Monaco (P)

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20 Thurs Concert. The Ronald Baker Quartet perform a jazz and blues concert in Saint Raphael. 8.30pm. From 15 euros. Espace Félix-Martin. Info: saint-raphael.com St. Raphael (K)

21 Fri Magic. La Colombe d'Or, an opportunity to see two shows with illusions, tricks and mystery. Running until 23/03/14. Palais des Congrès. Info: antibesjuanlespins.com Antibes (M)

The city of Tourrette Levens will be showcasing the work of American artist and resident Jim Monson until 16th March. Monson perfected the extraordinary art of designing, producing and transferring works of art from paper to wood using a special press. Monson is a full member of the Marémontane Academy, which is organising, in collaboration with the Cultural Service of Tourrette Levens, this beautiful exhibition. Espace culturel - Open every day between 2pm and 6pm. For more information, call 04 93 91 00 16. Entry is free.

Break the Floor. An international dance competition in the Grand Auditorium in Cannes. 8.30pm. From 10 euros. Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. Cannes (M)

23 Sun Church concert. 'Sacred Music' by the Maîtrise de Seine-Maritime. 4.30pm. Eglise Notre-Dame de Bon

Voyage. Free admission. Info : orgues-cannes.org Cannes (L)

Morning concert. Debussy and Ravel music directed by Lorenzo Viotti. 'Ma Mère l'Oye'. Mother Goose, a masterpiece for all ages. 11am. Opéra de Nice. Info: philharmonique-nice.org Nice (N)

EVENTS

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27 Thurs Stromae concert. The famous artist with many international hits such as 'Alors on Danse', will perform in Nice. From 34 euros. Palais Nikaïa. Info: nikaia.fr Nice (N)

28 Fri Philharmonic concert. De Falla, le Tricorne, suite no 2. Ravel, piano concerto. Stravinsky, Petrouchka. Conducted by Derrick Inouye. Opéra de Nice. Friday 8pm. Saturday 4pm. Info: philharmonique-nice.org Nice (N)

29 Sat Theatre. 'Sur la terre comme au 7ème ciel', a play directed by Mandine Guillaume. Runs for two days. Lavoir Théâtre, 63 bvd du Fossan. From 7 euros. Info: 04 93 41 41 55 Menton (Q)

Garden party. A meeting organized by the association 'Societe des Gens de Jardins Mediterranens,' giving specialist advice on gardening and the chance to discover new plants. Runs for two days. 10am. Place Sophie Laffitte, Sophia Antipolis, Valbonne. Info: jardinsud.com Valbonne (M)

30 Sun Organ music. Concert by organist Wolfram Syré. 4.30pm. Free admission. Eglise Notre-Dame de Bon Voyage. Info: orguescannes.org Cannes (L) Piano Concert. With music by composers such as Dutillex, Rachmaninov and Rimskia, a piano concert will be held in Cannes under the direction of Philippe Bender. 4.30pm. Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. Info: palaisdesfestivals.com

Until 29/03 Printemps des Poètes. The Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen in Nice is holding the 16th national edition of the celebration of poetry. Meetings, concerts, lectures, screenings, readings and workshops will be held for lovers of poetry. Info: villenice.fr Nice (N)

Until 01/06 Textual art exhibition. The exhibition 'Ligne de force' shows works of art that have to do with words, texts or characters. From 1pm to 6pm (except Mondays and Tuesdays). Espace de l'Art Concret. From 7 euros. Info: 04 93 75 71 50

Until 27/04. Exhibition "La magie de l'Estampe". Images by Georges Braque. 250 original prints of the cubist artist. 10am-1pm/2pm-6pm (except Monday). Centre d'Art la Malmaison. Info: www.delart.org Cannes (L)

Until 01/06 Henrik Berggreen art exhibition. 'Autour du legs Berggreen'. An exhibition with almost 70 contemporary works from private collectors are being held at the Museum of Modern Art in Nice, as part of a tribute to the legacy of the talented artist Henrik Berggreen (1928-2012). Info: mamc-nice.org Nice (N)

Until 12/05 Asian arts. The departmental museum of Asian arts hosts an exhibition entitled 'Sur les traces des mystérieuses cités d'or'. From 10am to 5pm. Closed on Tuesdays. Musée départemental des arts asiatiques. Info: artsNice (N) asiatiques.com Until 30/05 Book exhibition. 'Cannes entre légendes et réalitès' book exhibition with works by authors from Cannes and the surrounding area. Open weekdays from 1.30pm to 5pm. Espace Calmette. Info: Cannes (L) cannes.com Until 25/05 Modern art exhibition. Nice's Théâtre de la Photographie et de l'Image is holding an exhibition dedicated to the work of Jean-Paul Goude, a modern legend in the world of commercial art. From 10am to 6pm. Open daily (except Mondays). Info: Nice (N) tpi-nice.org

Mouans Sartoux (L)

Open ended Nature exhibition. Sharks: a thrilling experience continues at Monaco’s world-famous aquarium. Get up close and personal with the giants of the sea and unravel their complicated tale in this unique place. Oceanographic Museum. Info: oceano.mc Monaco (P)

Until 31/03 Perfume exhibition . ‘Les savoir-faire liès au parfum de Pays de Grasse.’ All about the art of creating perfume. A unique opportunity to create and learn about all the things involved in making perfume including raw materials and their processing, the art of creating a fragrance. Musée international de a parfumerie. Info: museesdegrasse.com Grasse (L)

NO. 1 FOR LOCAL NEWS

01 Sat Motocross competition. 'Assoluti D'Italia di Enduro', motocross racing competition all day, running for two days. Motoclub Alassio. Info: motoclubalassio.com Alassio (F)

Cave tour. Guided tour of the Grotta della Galleria del Treno. 4pm. Also on 08/03/14. Meeting point Via Aurelia at the Kiosk Torre del Mare. Reservation: 019 25 790 212 Bergeggi (I)

02 Sun Afternoon dance. Traditional and disco dancing. 3.30pm. Piazza delle Vittoria. Sundays and Tuesdays until 30/03/14. Ceriale (G)

03 Mon Piano Recital. G. Sokolov. Giovine Orchestra Genova in Teatro Carlo Felice. 8.30pm. Info: carlofelice.it Genoa (N)

Sanremo (C)

06 Thu Jazz. 'Aperitivi in Jazz,' Moroni Rava duo. Foyer of the Teatro Carlo Felice. 7pm. Info: carlofelice.it Genoa (N)

08 Sat Sailing regattas. 'Meeting Internazionale della Gioventù,' Races all day, running for two days. Alassio (F)

To ensure you don’t miss any of the exciting events happening on the Riviera this month, scan the QR Code on the left and be directed instantly to our website. It’s that easy!

www.rivieratimes.com

Cannes (L)

Imperia (E)

13 Thu Marathon. 'Mezzo Maratona,' professional and amateur races with different distances. All day. Genoa (N) 14 Fri Opera. 'Le Nozze di Figaro.' Opera by Mozart. 8.30pm. Info: carlofelice.it Genoa (N)

15 Sat Guided walk. 'In the footsteps of Tchaikovsky'. A guided tour through Sanremo to Coldirodi and a visit to the museum in Villa Rambaldi. Meeting point: 9.30pm in front of the church of San Rocco, Corso Matuzia, Sanremo, or 10.45am at the last bus stop in Coldriodi. Sanremo (C)

04 Tue Guided walk. 'Alla scoperta degli monumentali di Sanremo,' A guided tour through the Sanremo parks and monuments. Meeting point at 3pm in front of the station. Also on 18th and 22nd March.

Our events calendar is updated daily!

09 Sun Opera. 'Madame Butterfly,' Opera by G. Puccini. 4.30pm. Teatro Cavour.

16 Sun Concert. 'Inverno Musicale'. Concert by the Symphony Orcherstra of Bordighera. 3.30pm. Palazzo del Parco. Bordighera (B)

19 Wed Concert. 'Antonello Venditti' in concert. 9pm. Teatro Carlo Felice. Info: carlofelice.it Genoa (N)

22 Sat Dance workshop. Dancing in the studio with professional dancer A. Bellagamba. 3pm. Palazetto dello Sport. Borghetto Santo Spirito (F)

27 Thu Tour guide. Guided tour through the Sanremo monumental cemetery in the village of Foce. Meeting point at the entrance to the cemetery. 3pm. Sanremo (C)

Concert. 'Il concerto classico,' a concert by the Symphony Orchestra of Sanremo. Works by Fauré, Bizet, Hayden and Prokofiev. 5pm. Theatre in the Sanremo casino. Info: sindonicasanremo.it Sanremo (C)

28 Fri Leisure and fun. 'Primavera' and 'Take a Wave'. Leisure, nautical show and fairgrounds. Monday to Friday at 3.30pm to 10pm. Saturdays and Sundays 11am to 11pm. Until 06/04/14. Genoa (N)

18 Tue Opera. 'La Gioconda,' Opera Pochielli, from the production by the Opéra de Paris from 2013. 4pm. Teatro Verdi.

30 Sun Dance. 'Alassio Danza' carnival dance. Palalassio Ravizza. 3.30pm.

Genoa (N)

Alassio (F)

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LOOKING FOR FRENCH TEACHER for beginners, for small group in Monaco. Tel: 06 95 35 35 73. Email: sc@copiz.com PERSONAL ASSISTANT seeks fulltimeor part time job in Monaco. Languages: fluent english, french and german. Tel: +33 683 0685 94 GENERAL MOTORS, Detroit Diesel Marine engineer available for all your maintenance requirements. Servicing, Tune-up (injector timing) etc, Contact Iain on 0657034703 or wimackie@aol.com. GERMAN/PORTUGUESE couple looks for work in private household and garden, live-in preferred, nonsmokers with references. She: German, 52, experience with domestic work, care for the elderly, driver's license, loves to cook, fluent English and French, some Italian. He: Portuguese, 43, versatile, experience in construction work, handymanning, maintenance, gardening, basic English and French. Mob: 0033 673290658 or annmue55@gmail.com

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FOR RENT NICE. Studio 3-beds for holidays, Royal Luxembourg Palace with rooftop swimming pools next to Palais Mediterranee on Prom. For price/info/pics e-mail: towersfrance@yahoo.it CANNES. Studio for holidays, Eden Beach residence 3+1 beds, Plage du Midi Croix de Garde near the sea, swimming pool park. For price/info/pics e-mail: towersfrance@yahoo.it

FOR SALE BOOKS GREAT LOCATION for commuting to Monaco. Furnished one-bedroom apartment in Carnoles (Roquebrune Cap Martin). Large double bedroom with built-in cupboards. Living room with sofa bed, TV and Hifi. Bathroom with shower and washing machine. Kitchenette with oven / grill, fridge freezer and a microwave oven. Hallway with storage cupboards. Basic rent and charges. €975 p/m. Inclusive rental with gas, electricity, water, local taxes, and building charges €1100 p/m. Contact ViolettesMenton@gmail.com / 0033 (0) 603162025.

THE RIVIERA TIMES is looking for motivated editorial and sales interns, with placements of two months to one year available. Duties include writing news stories for the website and monthly newspaper. Applicants must be enrolled in a university course. Excellent writing skills are vital, experience in journalism is preferable, and a strong level of French: writing, reading, listening, speaking. Interested students should please send a cover letter, C.V. and examples of their writing to: rivieratimes@mediterra.com

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PROVENCE/FAYENCE region/Seillans. Individual land and house generously ingrown, quiet and exposed property, large panorama, south-facing slope 600m, unobstructed view, free of fog, 170sqm residence with ancillary rooms, central heating, gas, American kitchen, heated pool 4X9m, blinds, OSPA water technology, terrain 2850m, large terraces. Fully furnished on request. 480,000 euros. Email 20magic13@orange.fr, Tel: +33 (0)9 63 64 86 55. EXCEPTIONAL HAUTE couture fur jacket embroided with pearls, one of a kind made by Christian Lacroix. Kindly contact me on 0785500365. Beautiful IRISH SETTER PUPPIES available for new homes! Show winner parents, excellent pedigree! Contact: verka.zsolt@gmail.com

PERSONAL GORGEOUS FEMALE, 168cm/56kg, blonde hair/green eyes, 45yo/athletic/non-smoker. ISO Monegasque gentleman 50+ for marriage. Email w/photo merfroid@yahoo.com. WOULD YOU like to start all over in 2014 with new luck? Businessman who has partly retired, 69 years, 178 cm, uncommitted, who's been living on the French Riviera for a few years, s e e k s a h a p p y, c u l t u r e d , w a r m hearted and sophisticated woman with whom to share his hobbies like golf, hiking, cultural things and travelling. A cosy home with good wine and food (which you can tell by his looks) is waiting. He is a happy, positive character with many friends. Non-smoker. If he finds the right woman he would love to stay with her for good. Not looking for adventures. He would be delighted to receive a positive reply soon. CHIFFRE 857 or chiffre@mediterra.com

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NICE Relais H Aéroport 1 et 2 FNAC 30 avenue Jean Médecin MONACO Maison de la Presse de Monaco 1bis rue Grimaldi SAINT-TROPEZ Librairie du Port 11 rue des Commerçants

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MEETINGS with Adonis, 32, 1.85 m. Attractive Single Ladies can contact : infomail69@hispeed.ch www.AdonisTopofMen.com

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Life support Your survival guide to living in France Dear Andy, Dear Andy, I was just shocked to learn that over the next 2 months my kids have almost a month of holidays! Not only do I have to work, but I have no idea what to do with them while their off! Panicked in Nice Hi Panic, Please don't. Although it seems overwhelming that school holidays are fast approaching, there are plenty of options available to you. One of the best we feel is the Centre de Loisiers that the city has to offer. They are basically like summer camps where your kids are grouped in with others of the same age and they can participate in various activities from sport to art to theatre to cooking. Of course, there is a mild level of bureaucracy involved in signing up, but once you do the process is quite straight forward and efficient. Sign up! Go to www.nice.fr/Sportloisirs/La-carte-NicePluS to sign up for your NicePlus card. You only need one per household. Download the forms, fill them out with your children's birthdates, your address, your proof of address and send it in. Within two weeks or so you will receive

your card in the mail which allows your children to access all school break camps and summer camps that the city has to offer. Pick a camp! You now go back to the City of Nice website, usagers.ville-nice.fr and enter your first child's name and birthdate. You will then see all of the availability, the theme of the camps and their locations around your neighbourhood. You can choose whether you want your child to go every day, half days or only a few times per week. Pay for it! What you pay is determined by the system and is generally a function of your income. You can pay online and your child is officially registered in their camp. Relax! Now you can breathe easy because your kids will have days of fun-filled activities ahead of them and you'll be able to focus on your job without having to worry about them. Most Mairies have a similar scheme. If you do not live in Nice but are interested, contact your local Marie to ask for details on how to sign your children up for their school break camps. Mon Ami Andy Rue Lascaris, Nice Port Tel: 04 83 50 84 78 jennifer@monamiandy.com

THE RIVIERA BUSINESS Club is well and truly back! With a membership that is increasing daily and a superb programme of networking business events lined up every month, the RBC reclaims it's position as the leading business promotion and networking club in the region. As a non-profit organisation, our objectives are to facilitate easy networking between Englishspeaking business owners on the Côte d’Azur, help them promote their goods and services and to host regular business promotion seminars and events. Our flag-ship event - the Business Person of the Year Awards, was revived last December and was an outstanding success. This year's event is already being put together and will take place on 4th December at the Marriott Riviera. Our next networking event will be held on Friday 14th March at the Quai 21 in Cannes starting at 7.00 p.m - a Cocktail Dinatoire - an ideal opportunity to network and socialise. Join the RBC and get a head start for your business on the Riviera with three different types of membership available. Single at 40 euros, couple at 70 and corporate at 100 euros.

NO. 1 FOR LOCAL NEWS

Right: Claire Lathbury with Claire Verneil, pastry chef at the Fairmont Hotel Monte Carlo, which has just launched its sumptuous afternoon tea and cakes - 22 euros for all you can eat, 32 euros if you prefer your tea with champagne. A lawyer by training, Claire Verneil came to the hotel's attention when she reached the Masterchef finals in 2011.

Left: The Riviera Times jouranlist Stan Aron (2nd right) enjoying a glass of wine with producers at the Winegrowers fair at Nice Acropolis in Nice in February. Read our April edition to find out their take on the 2014 grape yield

Right: We are always happy to see our readers enjoying The Riviera Times and our insert publication The Monaco Times. We wandered upon these readers in Nice and was surprised to learn they are actually French. “This is great to practice our English!” they told us. Glad we can help.

www.rivierabusinessclub.fr 0493721189/0621206010 info@rivierabusinessclub

Publishing Director Petra Hall hall@mediterra.com

Editor Cassandra Tanti rivieratimes@mediterra.com

Contributors Stan Aron, Nicole Mercier, Anne Morris Andrew Denison, Claire Lathbury, Julian Nundy, Carolyn Reynier,

Art director Konny Strauss

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WE ARE almost in spring and the International Club of the Riviera is well into its diverse program of events for the year! The Winter Fusion, Art, Food, Wine & Music event on 1st March was another great success (Photos on our website and Facebook) Thank you Jin and Jin's Art Studio for the great setting! (jinsartstudio.com) With the weather finally improving, our outdoor sports events will be on the cards with both the International Golf and Tennis Clubs getting active and combined with the first outing of the Riviera Gourmet Club there is plenty of action to keep our members and guests busy. The highlight of March will undoubtedly be the 5th annual International Media Seminar on Tuesday 25th March hosted once again by our partners Bank Populaire Cote d'Azur in

their Auditorium in Nice. For the second year running, the ICR is proud to have the sensational world-renowned photo journalist and film maker Nick Danziger as the keynote speaker and moderator. Nick Danziger, whose presentation last year was higly acclaimed by a sell -out audience, will be touching on another gripping topic Human Rights and The Media, with another stuning audio visual presentation. Coming up in April: The Star Spangled Banner on Saturday 26th, and our first Polo Event on Saturday 14th June. Please note that all our events are in aid of our charity the Riviera for Children infected or effected by HIV/AIDS. www.internationalclub.fr 0493721189/0621206010 info.internationalclub.fr.

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