MONACO

General

Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The Principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. About 55% of Monaco’s annual revenue comes from value-added taxes on hotels, banks, and the industrial sector. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.

Government

Monaco is a Monarchy with a Constitution (of 1962). The Sovereign Prince is the Head of State. The Administration is entrusted to a Minister of State aided by a Council of Government (three councillors). The National Council shares the legislative power with the Prince but it alone is empowered to vote a law. The court system is hierarchically organised on three levels (Supreme Court, Superior Courts and Lower Courts).

Police

The Minister of State commands the police force. Particularly, the police depends of the Department of Interior. The national police commander is the direct and operational head of the Sûreté Publique in Monaco. The Sûreté Publique is composed of a police headquarter and six local districts. The quality and efficiency of the Monégasque police are mainly directed towards the prevention of crime without, however, the repressive aspect being neglected. It is, in fact, a matter of maintaining a delicate balance between the exercise of police powers and the respect for rights of the individual. About 500 officers ensure the safety of the population and many visitors (about 30,000 every day).