The Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes challenges the decree by the Metropolis that severely limits cruise ship stopovers. An emergency roundtable is organized to try to ease the tensions.
The sea is rough between the Prefecture and the Metropolis. This Thursday, the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture announced that it has referred to the administrative court to suspend and annul a decree issued the previous day by the president of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, Christian Estrosi. The issue: new drastic restrictions on the disembarkation and embarkation of passengers from cruise ships in the ports of Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer. Considered illegal, these measures provoke a political confrontation on the backdrop of economic, environmental, and legal stakes.
A Decree Deemed Illegal
Adopted on July 9 and applicable as of July 11, the metropolitan decree limits the number of passengers authorized to transit through the port of Nice to 450, and to 2,500 for Villefranche. It also caps the number of stopovers at 65 per year in Villefranche, with only one ship at a time. Radical measures, taken without prior consultation according to the Prefecture, and which, for the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, infringe on fundamental freedoms and do not comply with the legal framework. Hence, the decision to refer the case to the administrative court of Nice to request an urgent suspension.
A Crisis Meeting at the Prefecture
In a tense climate, the State is convening a round table this Friday bringing together all the sector stakeholders: port authorities, chambers of commerce, concerned mayors, cruise operators, and Union Maritime 06. Objective: to find a concerted solution, avoid escalation, and establish a regulation acceptable to all. The Mediterranean maritime prefect will also be present to offer a broader perspective on issues related to tourist flows and the marine environment.
Tensions amid Ecological and Economic Concerns
Behind this standoff hide deep stakes. The Metropolis aims to limit the environmental impact of mass tourism and protect the residents’ quality of life. The State, on the other hand, emphasizes the freedom to engage in business, the need to preserve the economic attractiveness of the territory, and the national-level port authority competence. For cruise companies and tourism professionals, regulatory instability could dissuade future stopovers, with economic repercussions at stake.
