The Franco-Italian-Monegasque Riviera corresponds to a densely populated coastal strip  (approximately 150,000 inhabitants, of which 70,000 in France, 50,000 in Italy and 30,000 in Monaco), running through a mountain range which stretches from Cap d'Ail on the French side to San Remo in Italy. This coastal territory is ribbed with numerous local as well as international flows of movement of every sort (tourism, commerce, health, employment…).

This tri-national area has the particularity of being structured around the Principality of Monaco, extra-community state, by far its most important job provider (38,000 jobs predominantly performed by French and Italian citizens). Cross-border integration is of a residential nature as the Principality has a population of 30,000 inhabitants with 12,000 French citizens and 8,000 Italians. A recent phenomenon has been ascertained with a growing number of Italians coming to settle or form companies on the French side.


One of the main challenges this coast, “jammed” between mountains and the sea, is faced with is to fight against the pressure it feels from both sides of the border. Victim of its own beauty, it feels a great deal of pressure from several sectors, such as tourism, land and real estate, as well as the growing saturation of its road infrastructures. The risk consists in an eventual degradation of its environment and loss of quality of life.

Another more political challenge lies in increasing the integration of Monaco in the functional aspect of the coast, notably with the local neighbouring French communities.

Cooperation in this coastal area began in 1991 with the signing of a “protocol of intent on local cross-border cooperation” between the mayors of Menton and Ventimiglia. Then, a study with a specific geographical scope was conducted at cross-border level in 1993 with the formation of the Inter-communal Syndicate for Local Cross-border Development, stretching from Villefranche-sur-Mer to the border and which carried out informal reflections with the Italian border municipalities. Relations became closer in 2002 with the formation of the French Riviera Conurbation Community around Menton.

In 2005, the French side of the territory was integrated into the metropolitan cooperation project selected by DIACT (France) which also included the inter-communalities of Cannes, Antibes and Nice, with a view to introducing coherence into the discussions around urban development and organisation at a wider Côte d'Azur scale.

There is no common technical or political structure for dialogue or joint management or planning tools for this cross-border area. However, a number of projects have been undertaken or are planned, notably inter-hospital cooperation between Menton and the province of Imperia, the LiRiCa project (enhancement of the management of cross-border public transport facilities) and the catchment of fresh water in a marine environment off the Côte.