International News

On Wednesday the European Commission has strongly urged the France "to clarify the budgetary strategy which will enable it to correct its excessive deficit and reduce its debt. The latter has in fact intended to increase "substantially because of the likely deficit, but also as a result of the issuance of public debt to finance public investment."In other words, Brussels is concerned about an economic policy which aims to increase the debt …

Ambitions intact

The Government does not intend to revisit all his ambitions downwards coincidence, François Fillon returned Wednesday by the Council of Ministers launched the operational program for future investments – 35 billion that will go into teaching Higher education, research, industrial clusters and SMEs, sustainable development and digital.

The Prime Minister announced the holding of an interdepartmental committee before the end of April, "after which will be signed the first agreements between the State and operators responsible for the granting of funds" (OSEO, National Agency for Research Fund deposits …).

These agreements specify the selection process of projects – they will catch up to France, while creating wealth and jobs – and the arrangements for monitoring investments. They make it possible to launch "within weeks" of the first calls for projects for their selection as 2010.

The first would involve investment in high speed, "a subject on which we want to go fast," said a government source.

Moreover, the list of international juries who must select the campus of excellence is almost ready and their choices, investment monitoring, should be done quickly.In the field of nuclear research, the government also wants early investments occur this year.

Other actions, which do not require the launch of calls for projects, will lead "to finance faster," says Matignon. This applies for example to strengthen the core of OSEO to 1.5 billion euros, the granting of "green loans" subsidized industrial enterprises and aid for thermal renovation of housing for households with low incomes.

The Commissioner General for investment, Rene Ricol, has his eye on a single euro spent … What reassure Brussels?

Antoine Gosset-Grainville, deputy director of François Fillon's office for nearly three years, will soon be appointed Director General of the Caisse des Depots et des Consignations (CDC). A decree of the President of the Republic should, except surprise formalize the appointment.

Revealed last week by Le Point, arriving rue de Lille, where they are officially "no comment" – is not expected until May. It would also be included in a broader reorganization of the management team of the Caisse des Depots, whose mission has grown with the crisis of the past two years.

Antoine Gosset-Grainville, 44 years Wednesday, should be specifically in charge of financial matters and strategic subsidiaries and shareholdings.Alain Quinet, currently director of finance, strategy and sustainable development, would be offered another position in the house.

Inspector of Finance, former lawyer for competition at Gide Loyrette Nouel, "the man with suspenders" Matignon is both well-versed in the intricacies of state and business community for having had the upper hand with the Prime Minister on economic issues: strategist, he has "all the qualities for the job," says a former employee.

The idea of the director general of the public, Augustin de Romanet, is among other muscles of the piloting of subsidiaries – NPC, Transdev, ISPs … – and the role of shareholder faxless payday advance .The CDC is indeed present in this capital of many companies, some of which (Post, Dexia) will be on center stage in the months ahead.

By calling to him near the existing power-AGG is not only close to François Fillon but also appreciated the team-Elysian former Deputy Secretary General Jacques Chirac is also an asset in his game Admittedly, Augustine Romanet is now guaranteed to go to the end of his term when his post had been many rumors at the beginning of the quinquennium.But the CDC and its branch are under surveillance, to the end of March 2012 will arise when the question of renewing the current mandate.

On Monday, the CGT said that "if confirmed, the arrival (Antoine Gosset-Grainville editor's note) would complete the questioning of the republican principle of autonomy of the CDC, which is threatened to" UMPisation " . Outside of any political stripe, the CDC has seen in recent years, several deputy directors of the Matignon office. Dominique Marcel (with Lionel Jospin), Augustin de Romanet (with Jean-Pierre Raffarin) and Alain Quinet (with Dominique de Villepin) especially had before him, opted for the venerable institution.

Investors began to doubt when the morale of U.S. households showed slightly degraded. Americans are less optimistic about employment prospects. The index of consumer sentiment fell to 72.5 in March against 73.6 in February.

The effect on U.S. markets was immediate. While in the early exchanges, they open up, already after three consecutive sessions in green, Dow Jones, Nasdaq and S & P 500 are passed into the red.

Around 16:30, they retreat respectively of 0.06%, 0.34% and 0.19%.

This Friday at 14:30, retail sales in the United States have resisted to the bad weather in February.Against all odds, they rose by 0.3% compared to January (in data seasonally adjusted) while analysts felt they had declined by 0.2%.

This supports other new ad, released Thursday, which was rather reassuring, even if they still underscore the difficulties overseas cheapest one. Like the U.S. trade deficit fell to 37.29 billion dollars from 39.9 billion in January. For specialists Barclays Exchange, "it is a pleasant surprise to the extent that economists were expecting a deficit of 41 billion dollars."Other good news side of the labor market "listings weekly unemployment fell to 462,000 from 469,000 the previous week.

Oil prices rose Friday in the opening exchanges in New York on a more optimistic market demand after the new forecast of the International Atomic Energy. The barrel of light sweet crude for April delivery was trading at the opening at 82.97 dollars, up 86 cents from the previous day.

On Wall Street will be sitting under the sign consumer with the publication of sales information for the month of February and the preliminary estimate of consumer confidence.Business inventories for the month of January will be published in late afternoon.

Citigroup rose 20% in 4 sessions

On the side of values, the CEO of Citigroup has pledged a return to profitability of the bank. The state could get rid of all of its shares within twelve months. The title of Citigroup rose 30% since the beginning of the month and by 20% since the stock market Monday. Friday, the shares resumed their breath, down from 0.7% to $ 4.15.

For several sessions throughout the banking sector enjoys a renewed interest from investors. On Thursday, he was also concerned by the failure of talks in the U.S. Senate to reform the financial system.After several months of effort, Senator Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, failed to reach an agreement between Republicans and Democrats on this bill to reform the banking system.

In the energy sector, Devon Energy (0.51%, to 72.41 dollars), the specialist production of oil will sell at BP Plc for seven billion dollars of assets located in Brazil, Azerbaijan and Gulf of Mexico.

Note also the manufacturer of semiconductor National Semiconductor announced after the close of the NYSE, a profit of 53.2 million, or 22 cents a share against 18 cents expected by analysts' consensus. Turnover was 361.9 million against 348.6 million expected by analysts. Titles rise of 0.63%, to 14.44 dollars.

It keeps more Ryanair. The low-cost airline, offering unbeatable prices every month and opens new destinations this year will become the first European carrier. With 65 million passengers pass it to Air France and Lufthansa. This success, however, relies on flamboyant resort to illegal aid from airports served.

According to Air France, the aid would have amounted to 660 million euros in Europe in 2008, including 35 million in France. Based on its estimates, the company has decided to refer the case to the European Commission, confirming the details of Figaro. The complaint should be filed against Ryanair in the coming weeks, includes several charges: "lack of prior notification," "breach of equality and distortion of competition ',' illegal state aid.

Air France has conducted a proper investigation before doing so.This included all decrypted reports of regional chambers of accounts (CRC) on the subject. Using data sometimes old, crossed with his information on the field, experts have reconstructed the puzzle of allegedly illegal subsidies received by Ryanair. It shows that on average, chambers of commerce and industry, who manage airports, support the activities of Ryanair in France up 9 to 32 euros per enplaned.

A cultural crusade

From the bottom of the range found in France (using a 11 euros per passenger) and by a simple rule of three with the European operations of Ryanair (60 million passengers in 2008), Air France said that its competitor has received this year 660 million euros of aid to Europe. In support of its investigation, the French company relied on its partners KLM and Alitalia.She has found that the aid granted to Ryanair at the airport of Ostend and Alghero were above its low estimate of 11 euros.

"It's a bit weak reasoning, recognizes a part of Air France. There is no organization in Europe that will do the job of regional chambers of accounts. But the 11 euros of aid per passenger is carried in Europe by the airport we could see. We therefore believe that Ryanair affects 660 million euros in Europe. "

Pushing his argument further, Air France calculates that Ryanair, which posted a net profit of 390 million for its fiscal year 2007-2008 and a loss of 169 million in 2008-2009, has been virtually lost 270 million in 2008 and 829 million last year.

The aid takes several forms.They can be direct, as aid to start extending in contradiction with EU legislation. It also aids "indirect" form of rebate granted on ground handling and airport charges.

The method Ryanair is known: for aid in exchange for an airport serving unprofitable, the company highlights the financial windfall of Anglo-Saxon tourists it carries. In case of refusal, or if the aid is criticized, it selects a nearby airport.

This crusade Air France is not the new episode of a commercial battle, since he rarely Ryanair frontally competition. It is more cultural. "The prices charged by Ryanair give a false perception of the value of our service to passengers, said a part of Air France.The Irish company is considered the musketeer who is offering unbeatable prices respond to national companies and terminate abnormally high rates. In fact, Ryanair flies with the European taxpayers' money. "

Ryanair responds to accusations

Contacted by Le Figaro, Ryanair denies receiving any state aid on the airports where it operates. According to the spokesman of the company, "Air France is who receives illegal subsidies in the form of reductions in airport taxes on its domestic routes in France. "We do not pay attention to false claims of companies such as Air France who perform high prices and fuel surcharges, said the spokesman of the company.They complain because they can not make us competitive. "Ryanair has been traveling 6 million people in the departure or arrival of the French regions and said" support 6 000 jobs in France. In addition, Ryanair announced that "the economic model of Air France is in danger because the company can match its prices. This explains the false accusations. "

End of story. For several weeks, negotiations between the seven countries A400M customers and executives of EADS, parent company of Airbus, have punctuated the news. At yet another meeting, in Berlin, a "tentative agreement" was reached, provided the giant European aerospace in a statement.

Customers (Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey) will pay 3.5 billion euros extra. What survival program, which accumulates nearly four years late and reaped 5.2 billion euros of additional costs.

Specifically, they shall have two billion more on the initial price of the contract and provide $ 1.5 billion in exchange for a share of future exports, according to EADS.The original contract must be amended in the "coming weeks".

In addition, it was agreed to accelerate payment of PDP between 2010 and 2014, but no timetable has yet been arrested.

The time for congratulations

EADS considers that this agreement provides a basis "healthy" for a successful evolution of the A400 program M.

The French Minister of Defense Hervé Morin was commended for his share "of the finalization of the negotiations. "This agreement completes the implementation of decisions taken by ministers at the meeting organized at the initiative of France in Le Castellet July 24, 2009, during which the nations have decided to continue this program emblematic of Europe defense, "he said.

In January, EADS said it planned to simply abandon the program, saying while threatening the sustainability of the group.

The Minister then assured that France would "do anything to save" the project. A few days before, the multipurpose aircraft designed to replace the Transall C-160, for example, 45.1 meters long and 14.7 meters high, can Tranporter troops and equipment, had made its third flight.

Profit warning

This agreement is obviously good news. But EADS will pay the piper in recent months. The group was informed on Friday that it will record an operating profit (EBIT) and net earnings were negative in 2009.In case the provision of 1.8 billion euros for the additional costs of A400 million, he announced today in a statement.

"The final figures will be disclosed during the announcement of full results of fiscal 2009 EADS March 9, 2010.

CM-CIC, which was released yesterday, Thursday, a "preview" (a score prediction results), banking on a net income of 60 million euros, while the Bloomberg consensus provided 21 million euros. But these figures do not include the provision because it was not known.

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Polls difficult cases and poorly negotiated since the fall does not undermine the morale Elysian. Nicolas Sarkozy sees the ordinary burden of a president in mid-term and continues to relativize the scope, particularly in comparing himself to his predecessors. Since the Christmas holidays, he has also given much time to calibrate the outline of its strategy for the second half of the quinquennium. On the form, we have seen since early January that this strategy was through the reaffirmation of listening skills. On the merits, the head of state will play its trump card after the regional. After undergoing controversy that was not planned, it will take a debate front of which he knows by heart the social and political risks. But he also sees the benefits it will reap vis-à-vis the electorate.It is, of course, the pension reform.

The results of regional elections should have little impact on this strategy. The Elysee to environmental stresses that "the majority can not be further sanctioned in 2004, where she could keep only two regions. With this diagnosis, Nicolas Sarkozy has already said he would take the election results, but should still maintain its current balances in the government team, headed by François Fillon.

However, he can thank Martine Aubry. By declaring in the first instance, supported a postponement of the age of retirement at age 62, the first secretary of the PS opened the debate much earlier than expected, and it gave credibility to the government's position.Polls in support, the Elysee is now convinced that the French are ripe.

The time has come for the act

Nicolas Sarkozy wants to move quickly on this issue. No way to let the unions take to the streets in October to protest against a proposed reform dashed again. Everyone remembers the November 1995 strikes against pension reform remains the worst memory of the line for fifteen years. Sarkozy wants then arbitrate on the reform of pensions as early as June And to pass a law "in the month of July," confirmed by several sources. He then turned to a mixed solution, combining the lengthening of the contribution period and delaying the legal retirement age.Symbolically, the change of the legal age of retirement would impact tenfold, and it seems that even the Elysee Raymond Soubie, the great clockmaker of social relations which advises the president, is convinced that the time has come proceed to act. Elysian source, a special session of Parliament in July appears to have "acquired" given the workload of the two assemblies.

Of course, the government expects a tough clash with the social partners. For now, the waters unions are barely wrinkled a few ripples. But beware of "the calm before the storm," warns a minister concerned about the mobilization of the month of May According to someone close to Nicolas Sarkozy, these events present at least the advantage of reform credibility with voters."Plus there will be parades, plus French will credit him for having the courage to decide on this matter," smiled one of his friends. Another adviser very point that "nobody has noticed the reform of universities because there were no strikes at the time." In addition to the mobilization of spring, the Elysee is also expected to fall very volatile. "There will be upward pressure on wages as the recovery will be felt," admits an advisor, providing an inflow of association necessarily muscular. It's time that Sarkozy chose to discuss other reforms in 2010, including the legal proceedings or fifth risk Social Security.

But he also intends to take this year-end 2010 to return in force on the international stage. "He will chair the G20 in the month of November 2010, and until summer 2011, said his entourage.The president wants to play again when the partition that had been so successful during the presidency of the European Union in late 2008. The regional elections, hopefully it will be so far.

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Good news: 3,600 farmers have chosen to convert their farms to organic in 2009, is 20% more than last year. "This is a historic increase in the last ten said Elisabeth Mercier, director of the Bio Agency, the body responsible for promoting bio in France. The increase in 2009, is the total of seven years earlier. "

Better yet is no room for complacency: the organic still represents only 2.4 to 2.5% of the agricultural area in France. To meet the objectives of the Grenelle of the environment, it should reach 6% in 2012 and 20% in 2020 …

A French two consumes Bio

The barometer 2009 Agency bio makes it clear that organic products are completely integrated into the everyday consumer. "A French consumes two organic at least once a month, says Elisabeth Mercier.It is a structural trend, we can not really speak of fashion. "Despite the crisis, all indicators are green: 84% of French believe that organic agriculture should continue to grow and 25% of consumers of organic intend to grow in the next six months their consumption (against 22% in 2008) while they are 71% want to keep it low fee payday loans . New organic buyers also progressing with 20% of consumers who are being less than two years. They are also often to feed a newborn in the family.

Price of success, imports of organic products should rise further in 2010. The Agency considers the bio to 30% on average with significant differences depending on the product.If the local supply of meat, eggs or wine can meet the demand, much less the case for milk, cereals and products of high culture. As for fruits and vegetables and groceries dry areas on which the demand is strong, imports represent up to 50% or 60%. Since it takes three years for a farmer to convert to organic, the offer is not about to join the request.

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Air Problems

Air traffic may experience some disruption on Wednesday and Thursday. An Inter-CGT-CGC-FO Unsa air traffic controllers said it was maintaining its notice to strike despite a meeting with Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau. Twelve thousand agents are concerned. They deal in particular security and air traffic management. The airlines will then induced to delay or cancel their flights. "We expect a fairly important to strike then strong enough disruption to our services. We warned these companies of significant disturbance to predict, "warns the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This should provide future traffic forecasts. Travelers are advised to check their flights before going on site. Several airports, such as Lille or Brest Britain, are already experiencing delays.Trade union sources suggest even the possibility of "Operation Snail" on access to airports.

Reason: the Inter asks the Government to reconsider its policy of non-renewal of retirement on two, or 400 job cuts in two years. The unions also fear a dismantling of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in favor of a merger of services under the FABEC (block functional space common to Germany, Benelux and Switzerland) .

Officials should stop work

They are asked to raise next January 21 by the CGT, FSU, Solidaires, the NMS-CFDT and UNSA-Education.

Reason: they demand an immediate halt job cuts. According to them, in 2010, the State and public services will suffer their worst year in the budget with 30,000 job cuts.Since 2007, this will total more than 100,000 jobs have been eliminated. "Education is very particularly hard hit with more than 16,000 job cuts, totaling more than 40,000 jobs," said a statement of the UNSA-Education. A common departure is planned in Paris, Place de la Republique and 14h. "This movement must be sustainable, unions warn.

The maritime transport of goods affected

In continuation of the strike on January 4, a social movement paralyzes the major French ports since the beginning of the week. The mobilization could still continue. Monday, at the invitation of the National Federation of Ports and Docks CGT workers stopped work in Marseille, Dunkerque, Nantes-Saint Nazaire, Rouen, Bordeaux, La Rochelle and Le Havre. In the Normandy ports, they were almost 90% to strike. In Marseilles and Fos, fifteen vessels were affected.At Havre, the container terminals were very disturbed.

Reason: after the port reform, the CGT claimed the government guarantees employment, including the arduous, and investment. The union wants the expansion of the national collective agreement to river ports and fishing ports and want more information on the transfer of personnel handling to the private sector. The seven autonomous ports French in 2008 employed nearly 31,700 people. However, their market share relative to their European competitors continues to decline.

Mobilization to the Court of Appeal of Amiens

The unions and leftist parties called the 1120 employees of the factory Continental Clairoix to demonstrate to the Court of Appeal of Amiens on Wednesday.

Reason: the first trial court had sentenced heavily Compiegne six demonstrators protesting against the closure of their factory.The objective of the Inter is to obtain the release of six persons convicted of "looting" of the sub-prefecture of Compiegne April 21 last. That day, nearly 200 employees occupy the factory sub-prefecture, after learning they were rejected by the justice of their demand to cancel the procedure of closure. The trial will take place at 13:30.

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Around 13 hours, the CAC 40 in advance from 0.72% to 3784 points, after a cumulative loss of 2.34% over the last three sessions. Operators conducting repurchases cheaply despite the announcement by Standard & Poor's. The agency said that Spain risked a deterioration of its sovereign rating to a two-year horizon. It has downgraded the outlook to "negative" cons "stable" before, while maintaining its rating of "AA +" to the long-term debt of the country.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday proposed a "global compact long term" of banking regulation. They would support a tax bonuses in banks and greater coordination of economic policies of states.

Values follow

BNP Paribas Assurance acquires 100% of Dexia Epargne Pension. The bank wishes to complete the transaction before the end of first quarter 2010.The transaction amount was not disclosed. The title takes BNP Paribas 0.92%.

Sanofi-Aventis (0.53%) and the American biotechnology company Alopexx Pharmaceuticals have signed a cooperation agreement on a new monoclonal antibody for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases contracted in hospitals. Moreover, the vaccines division of Sanofi Pasteur, will expand into Latin America program of clinical trials of its vaccine against dengue.

Thomson collapses over 7%. The title returns to below 1 euro to 0.90 euro. The group released its backup plan to reduce its debt by 45% and will be submitted to its creditors on 21 and 22 December. Thomson provides a capital increase of approximately 348 million euros.

According to the Financial Times, RWE and E. ON would have to choose between Areva (0.81%) and Toshiba to build four to six reactors in the United Kingdom.The decision will be rendered within six months. Nuclear projects could reach 20 billion pounds (22 billion euros).

Malaise in the drafting of TF1 and LCI. During these two days, a petition full of anxiety concerning the working conditions of editorial running in the first group of television. The fear expressed is that of seeing down the "information quality" of the first media of France, given the new organization that is gradually established. This should lead eventually to a complete merger of the newsrooms of the two channels.

In this document signed by all the trades the group's information, the signatories say loud and efforts on behalf of the savings plan of the chain. Nonce Paolini, CEO of the group, has promised to market savings of some 70 million euros to spare no one. Thus, the wording has already recorded a score of departures on its total to 330 journalists. Or 200 and TF1 and LCI 130.But it is also the organization of work teams worried: less time to subjects, and especially fewer people to make reports.

"Standing"

TF1 teams are restricted to two instead of three. Pell-mell added demands on the growing intensity of the pace of work and wages deemed insufficient and that some classes require to upgrade. "We do not BFMTV, whispers it in Backstage. TF1 has a luxury it must keep. The restrictions must not impair the antenna. "

A position that is far from denying Catherine Nayler, director of information of the first string of France: "This document from an Inter-five organizations including the apparent desire to maintain the quality of work. It is a concern that I share too.As a major general news channel, TF1 must absolutely and always respond to this need and keep its label. No reform will be to the detriment of the quality of the newspaper, "says she. "The questions that arise so concentrated in this text today, we talk every day together. We are facing a double challenge: that of an economic crisis affecting all media, forcing them to reorganize and that of the pooling of resources between the two antennas.The organization of TF1 was frozen for twenty years, I understand evolve is not clear. "Not to mention that November 25 will be holding elections to appoint professional staff delegates.

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