From June 9 to 13, the UNOC, the United Nations World Ocean Conference, will be held in Nice under the vigilant eye of the authorities. An exceptional security arrangement is in place, on land, at sea, and in the air.
The city of Nice is about to host an event of international importance: the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), ten years after the COP21 in Paris in 2015. For the occasion, an unprecedented security arrangement was unveiled this Monday. “We have been mobilized for a long time, in close cooperation with the city,” emphasized the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, Laurent Hottiaux. The objective: to secure participants and venues while preserving the activities of businesses and the lives of residents. 5,000 police officers, gendarmes, and military personnel, as well as the RAID, the GIGN, firefighters, and even agents from Frontex, the European border and coast guard agency, will be at work. Two zones, green and blue, structure the city. The first is accessible with an invitation or pre-registration; the second, more restrictive one, is under reinforced control. A zero tolerance policy is also declared against any opportunistic delinquency, “taking advantage of the summit’s organization to commit offenses”.
Security on land, at sea, and in the air
A “major event” decree allows law enforcement to carry out checks in secured perimeters, with identity verifications and screening operations – 18,000 have already been conducted according to Aurélie Lebourgeois, the Prefect’s Chief of Staff. Traffic is adapted but not blocked: trams and buses remain operational, although some exits or sections are altered, particularly around the Lympia port or on the Promenade des Anglais, where one lane in each direction is reserved for the summit. On the sea side, five major areas are under surveillance, including four in the Bay of Angels and one in the Villefranche harbor. The maritime prefect, Christophe Lucas, emphasizes the “adjustable and restrictive” nature of the arrangement, particularly on June 8 during the “great parade for the ocean” with UNOC vessels. Swimming will also be prohibited from June 5 on the Bains de la Mairie beach.
Constraints… but a pride for Nice
“The arrangement may seem anxiety-inducing, but it is normal and I see it positively,” acknowledged Christian Estrosi. The mayor of Nice prefers to see it as an opportunity for the city, “for its international influence”. To facilitate movement, public transportation will be free on June 6, 7, and 8. He is already pleased with the effect of the summit: “We see awareness, far beyond previous conferences in Lisbon or New York, it’s power 10 here!”
