Preparations for the Vote on the Preliminary Budget - The Minister of State Addresses the Press “For the 9th consecutive year, our budget is in surplus, proof of our attractiveness and our development"

© Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali

On Friday 6 December, a breakfast meeting was held at the residence of the Ministry of State with the Monegasque Press, H.E. Mr Serge Telle, Minister of State, and Jean Castellini, Minister of Finance and Economy. On the agenda was a presentation of the preliminary budget for 2020, in surplus for the 9^th consecutive year, reflecting the Government's policy, which is based on housing, mobility, quality of life and the digital transition towards the economy of the future.

At this meeting, the Minister of State emphasised the role of the Monegasque State as a "protector and stimulator, where in other countries, the State is disappearing in the face of globalisation." "We have the means to implement our policy," he continued, adding, "This is a truth-telling exercise. Discussions on the budget show the sincerity of public debate. For the 9^th consecutive year, we have a budget in surplus. This is the result of a Government policy based on attractiveness and economic development. "

He particularly welcomed the progress made in the field of housing, announcing that "the initial budget for 2020 allocates EUR 174.5 million to this sector. An unprecedented investment!  Approximately 200 homes will have been allocated by October 2020. In total, more than 900 new homes will be delivered by the end of 2023."

More specifically, with regard to Les Jardins d'Apolline, he was pleased with the way this matter was handled. "It's unique in the world... It's because we have healthy finances that we've been able to do this," he stated.

For his part, Jean Castellini recalled that "the financial aspect is not an end in itself. In the economy, there are the human and social aspects. We are creating jobs; 1,600 more in one year.  Job creation in 2019 is well above the average for the last ten years. This bears witness to the attractiveness of the Principality." He then referred to the efforts of Digital Transition "which will make large-scale dematerialisation possible. With regard to pay slips alone (672,000/year), this represents an annual saving of 3.4 tonnes of paper."

In conclusion, the Minister pointed out that "this preliminary budget for 2020 is a budget of implementation and expansion. We are implementing and expanding many commitments in the fields of housing, mobility, digital transition, etc."