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A new political idea is stirring discussion on both sides of the Franco-Monegasque border. Éric Ciotti, president of the France–Monaco Friendship Group in the National Assembly and candidate in the upcoming Nice municipal elections, has suggested creating a special economic zone in the Alpes-Maritimes that would welcome Monegasque companies while granting them the same fiscal advantages they enjoy inside the Principality.
Ciotti’s proposal stems from a clear observation: every day, approximately 40,000 people travel to Monaco for work — and 25,000 of them live in Nice. This intense cross-border flow places enormous pressure on roads leading into the Principality, creating daily congestion at peak hours. During an interview with TVMonaco, Ciotti argued that establishing a dedicated free zone could ease mobility issues while stimulating economic activity. “It is an idea that deserves to be explored seriously, as it would allow development on both sides of the border,” he said.
Éco-Vallée as a strategic location
Ciotti is now pointing to the Var plain, an area north of Nice Airport that hosts the Éco-Vallée development, launched in 2005, as the ideal setting for such a zone. The project has long aimed to create a modern economic hub, and the proposed free zone could give it new momentum.
Philippe Ortelli, President of FEDEM, sees strong potential in the initiative. In his comments to TVMonaco, he emphasised that Monaco’s economy continues to expand and must generate around 1,000 new jobs each year. A free zone on French territory could provide additional workspace for companies that have outgrown the Principality’s limited land, while also benefiting the many French residents employed by Monegasque firms.
Conditions and challenges remain
From Monaco’s perspective, Fabrice Notari of the National Council expressed openness to the concept, but also cautioned that such an arrangement must guarantee equivalent fiscal and social conditions to those in the Principality. For some policymakers, this proposal appears more realistic than the previously discussed — and now abandoned — metro link between Nice and Monaco, which faced substantial financial and engineering barriers.
The free-zone idea is still in its early stages, but it has already reignited broader discussions about regional cooperation, transport pressures, and the future of cross-border economic ties.