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Greece: final negotiations before a return to the polls

May 16, 2012 - 9:44 pm Comments Off

 

Greece has more than two billion euros in its coffers. It is little, if it wishes to continue paying the salaries of its 800,000 civil servants – who were only 400,000 in 1981 to the arrival of the ruling Socialists. To meet its deadlines, the State was to receive in June a slice of eight billion euros of European interest loans. Under the agreements signed, this tranche would be released only after a finding by representatives of the Troika (ECB, IMF, EU) promised that structural reforms were indeed made. As the country is paralyzed by its electoral process since two months, nothing has been done. The financial situation of the Hellenic Republic is particularly critical, and could be declared bankrupt soon June 30

During the week following the elections on May 6, the only ones who seemed not to realize that the country was on the brink policies were, obsessed with their electoral interests. And Alexis Tsipras, the local Mélenchon, who polls promised an increase of his party Syriza three points for a new vote, has consistently refused to make any concessions that would allow a government to obtain a majority in Parliament. "The question now arises that history to each of our politicians is: its priority is it the future of Greece or only the electoral future of his party?", Told us Monday afternoon, the political journalist George Vlavianos.

Fortunately for the country, there is a man who understood that Greece could not afford new elections and the need to try everything to find him a government: President of the Republic payday advance. Skilled negotiator – he was foreign minister from 1985 to 1989 and from 1993 to 1996 – Karolos Papoulias on Monday night proposed a new idea to the leaders of three parties of the center of the political spectrum – PASOK, New Democracy (ND) and Democratic Left (GD) – he had summoned in his office: the formation of a government of technocrats. Fotis Kouvelis, the head of GD, has one condition: an ecumenical support in Parliament, which would include the leftist Syriza.

As he is not sure Tsipras, whose office is decorated with a portrait of Fidel Castro agrees to support such a pro-European government, President Papoulias has reserved two options for the day Tuesday, May 15 At 13 hours, he will receive one on one, Kamenos, the leader of the nationalist right-wing party of "Independents" to try to snatch a possible participation in a government with PASOK and ND. But at 14 hours, he summoned the leaders of the five parties representing the new Greek electoral spectrum – with the exception of KKE Communists and neo-fascist Golden Dawn – to offer them support in Parliament a Government technocrats.

Clearly, this second option, if it was validated, would be better able to calm markets and reassure a little bit of a troika increasingly exasperated

.

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Europe is entering a zone of turbulence

May 8, 2012 - 12:56 pm Comments Off

 

From our correspondent in Brussels.

The French like the Greeks have sanctioned the rigor and Europe seeking his bearings again. After the victory of Francois Hollande and the crushing defeat of the supporters of the euro in Athens, the EU has launched Monday in a forced march to catch up policy. Under the banner of growth, but piecemeal.

Much will depend on the ability of the elected president and German chancellor to silence by their dissonances to May 15 on what was until Sunday the compass of European capitals: the fiscal pact and collective discipline. But it is the vote that created consternation Greek. By depriving democratic legitimacy of the bailout which Europe has devoted two years in a considerable energy, it immediately wakes up the specter of a breakup of the euro.

"Greece is at the limit of what its people can cash in" on austerity, Michel Barnier recognizes facing the electoral advance of the extreme. For the French commissioner, the balance needs to find throughout the EU "between what is credible for the markets and what is bearable for the people." Angela Merkel is weakened by the ordeal, but financial orthodoxy is not provided under attack: "There is no question of renegotiating the bailout" laboriously reached in February with Athens, provides an official at the heart the discussion.

"All debts are created equal"

Sacrificing the Greek plan, or give a penknife in the Treaty budget, would be far worse than burning idols of yesterday. This would pave the way for overflow. Portugal, also on a drip European, certainly require adjustments. In Ireland, it might find in a compact variable geometry a right to say again "no" to a European treaty in the referendum of May 31

Francois Hollande has not specified how its European partners "for that austerity is no longer inevitable." Approaching his victory speech had already begun to move to Brussels as the European capitals. This was done in small steps, but the austerity of the mantras are already chipped or less: less structural reforms and budget cuts, more flexibility, employment and growth. "All public debts are not created equal," ahead of anonymity a senior official opponent of bureaucracy and cost of future investments.

A first dam jumped this weekend when the Finnish Commissioner Olli Rehn, in charge of the case, implicitly admitted that the objective of a budget deficit reduced to 3% in 2013 would perhaps not required by all. Greece, of course, but also Spain overwhelmed by the recession and unemployment could well benefit from this exemption the first inexpressible last month. Under "exceptional circumstances", validated by other EU countries.

The bet is that markets will accommodate this as an act of political realism and not as a confession of laxity on the euro. The big question remains of course France: its budget program is already extraordinary and rare are those who still believe she can hold the line, despite repeated assurances from President-elect.

The second exception to the rule of the game for the Relief Fund of the euro, too painstakingly negotiated treaty with Berlin. Again, this is Spain and its banks eroded by the recession that give cold sweats. The idea agitated in several capitals would authorize the "European Monetary Fund" to provide loans directly – that is to say unconditionally – Spanish banks. But this window open still faces opposition front of Angela Merkel.

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Users angry launch "Operation Phantom TGV"

April 21, 2012 - 9:32 pm Comments Off

 

The ras-le-bol rises among users of TGV Nantes / Angers / Le Mans / Paris. And also the response … The members of the collective defense of Subscribers Line Atlantic (Ladala) took a new step in their protest movement against the repeated delays of the station, on the line leading to the capital. The trick to reach the railway portfolio. To do this, they have not hesitated to launch a "ghost TGV" massively by booking every seat of a TGV line in question. Of seats they will not play of course. Each member buying between 5 and 10 seats, 800 seats have already been blocked, all classes, as pointed out this morning on RTL Pascal Mignot, the representative of the collective.

Reaction except the SNCF, the train should travel empty, which would result in a serious shortfall. Because the protesters are concerned subscribers, a status that gives them access to places for a mere $ 1.50. And the date chosen is not trivial since the 250 members of Ladala have set Wednesday, May 16, the eve of Ascension Day and the weekend so great starts.

Greece of tickets

This is not the first time Ladala tries to voice his displeasure. Mid-March, the group had launched a strike of tickets and passes, along with daily rallies in trains and on platforms. Faced with the continuing delays and lack of financial consequences for the SNCF, the association thus increases the pressure, also taking on its website a statement of the duration of the movement, and delays on this line poor credit personal loans.

Faced with the accumulation of failures since the schedule changes in December 2011, their demands are clear: rate freeze on packages (over 500 euros per month), on-time to avoid disputes with employers, indemnity 2.5 euros per 10 minutes late, and got 150 euro for subscribers to compensate for failures of January, February and March. In total, officials estimate that the collective duration of 14 hours cumulative delays over this period.

Side of the Authority of the quality of service in transport (AQST, dependent on the Ministry of Ecology), although the figures show a surge in failures since November, with up to 30% of trains delayed . But since February, the trend seems to be improving. Apparently not enough to calm those subscribers, still wearing a badge "subscribers on strike," which also launched an online petition and sent a letter to presidential candidates. Denouncing a 18% increase in travel time on an ordinary trip to Le Mans / Paris, they have finally created a Twitter account inviting followers to list all the failures of the Atlantic line. An initiative that has been emulated the Creusot subscribers and Amiens have since joined the movement.

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Complaints about mobile phones rose by 11%

March 17, 2012 - 9:40 pm Comments Off

 

When the VAT hike in early 2011 and the arrival of Free Mobile early 2012, mobile operators have seen their customers from leaving in droves to a competitor in search of a better price. "The price does not explain everything. We underestimated the frustration of customers, "recently confessed an operator. Because, rightly or wrongly, telecom focus the discontent of consumers. The sector holds in the palm of 2011 claims (24%), before the consumer (22%) and computers (12%), as the documentary credit.

Within the family telecoms, mobile internet is back in front in claims: in 2011, 53% of complaints received by the French Association of telecom users (AFUTT) concerned the mobile Internet access 38% and 9% fixed phone. Mobile-related complaints rose 11%, while those related to Internet were down 28%.

In Mobile, the fourth door on the invoice disputes: consumers are left with overruns, mostly due to premium rate calls as the SMS + or spam for users scammed. Also involved, according to AFUTT, misuse of mobile Internet abroad, and the complexity of fee schedules.

Furthermore the bill, disputes also include the termination of the contract. Customers who have purchased a package included with phone and find themselves thus committed 12 or 24 months, resent not being able to cancel without charge, including for reasons considered legitimate: death, moving abroad, loss of employment, etc fast cash without a hassle..

After contacting customer service, then the service consumer of their operator, the aggrieved clients can always resort to the mediator. "When the Ombudsman receives, operators generally find a solution because their desire is to reduce complaints," said Francois Cuinat, mediator of electronic communications. Complaints are more likely among clients of virtual operators (MVNO) than the "big" operators, indicates the AFUTT. "Orange, SFR and Bouygues have an index of conflict less than 1, the Bouygues Telecom is much improved this year. That of MVNOs still significantly higher, "said the AFUTT.

In this context, what impact will the arrival of Free Mobile? "We have nothing to report about Free Mobile. But for the mobile market as a whole, we are very interrogative on the effect of a competition that would be too exclusively based on prices, said Jacques Pomonti, president of the AFUTT. We hope that the price competition will not affect the quality of service or investment in infrastructure, "he concluded.

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Halal meat industry rejects accusations of Le Pen

February 19, 2012 - 6:00 pm Comments Off

 

Saturday accused by Marine Le Pen to slaughter according to halal "all meat" distributed in the Ile-de-France, industrialists defend themselves. President of the National Association of interprofessional Livestock and Meat (Interbev), interviewed by France Info, the judge charged the president of the National Front "absolutely false".

"In the Ile-de-France, a vast majority of meat is not slaughtered according to halal or kosher," which involves killing animals without stunning, ensures Dominique Langlois. "It may be that parts or pieces of meat from carcasses are slaughtered according to these rites, but that does not change the quality of meat and it does not change at all the qualities of the product," adds Will it.

For professionals in the meat, the charge of Marine Le Pen "is meant strictly political and did not match the reality of things." "It's a debate that can only be detrimental to both the meat industry to French and French production that does not need it," warned the president of Interbev.

The animal rights groups mobilized

This debate is not new. Since a 1964 decree, the slaughter in France requires the stunning of animals before killing, thereby mitigating their suffering. But European legislation provides an exemption, "when stunning is not compatible with the ritual prescriptions under the free exercise of religion."

Last year, six associations have denounced the increasing proportion of animals slaughtered according to Jewish or Muslim rites. According to the Foundation Brigitte Bardot, who had made an investigation in slaughterhouses, more than 60% of sheep and goats, 28% of adult cattle and 43% of calves were then killed without stunning.

In Ile-de-France, according to a study by the House of livestock and quoted this week on the show Special Envoy on France 2, the five slaughterhouses in the region adhere to Islamic and does not stun their animals. The reasons are economic, in order to distribute the meat in the halal butchers and traditional, where consumers are not necessarily aware of the method of slaughter.

Approval before waive stunning

Two bills were filed in late 2010, the Senate to the Assembly, without success, to obtain a specific labeling of meat slaughtered without stunning paperless payday loans. "The consumer has the right to know what he eats. He has the right not to eat meat slaughtered in a ritual which does not believe him, "argued the UMP deputy Nicolas Dhuicq. A new amendment, introduced in September 2011, was also rejected.

On 29 December, a decree was published in the Official Journal, however, requiring 275 French slaughterhouses to obtain, on or after 1 July 2012, before an official authorization from the rule of stunning. "It does [may] be granted only to slaughterhouses in favor [...] of a registration system to verify that it is used to slaughter without stunning as a result of justifying the commercial orders, "said the Ministry of Agriculture.

Marine Le Pen wants to complain

The animal rights groups have expressed quite satisfied with this text. "Being able to justify a ritual slaughter is a specific order is important because, currently, most of the meat of this kind of slaughter is found in conventional circuits without any indication to consumers," recalled Christophe Marie, spokeswoman Brigitte Bardot Foundation.

Marine Le Pen was not in favor waiting for the entry into force of the decree. On the sidelines of the convention of his party, being held this weekend in Lille, it announced its intention to attack "a few major retail supermarkets in Ile-de-France for misrepresentation of the product." She said wanting to file a complaint with a civil order for a judge to be seized, which could lead to an investigation of several months.

On the government side, said Sunday it does not have "accurate information" about the slaughter in Ile-de-France. But a spokesman for the Ministry of Food said that the meat supply in the region "did not originate exclusively" in the slaughterhouses of "proximity", which "may have to supply a particular community, and therefore work according ritual slaughter of halal or kosher. "

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"The candidacy of Le Pen is slowing

November 12, 2011 - 11:36 am Comments Off

The Paris market takes a few colors on Friday. In this holiday, where the activity should be reduced, the CAC 40 opened up 0.21% to 3070.33 points. Same trend in Frankfurt the DAX index rose 0.23% to 5881.49 points. In London, the FTSE-100 index key values ​​has opened down slightly from 0.07% to 5541.55 points.

Investor sentiment is supported by advanced this week in the eurozone. Management of public finances in Greece and Italy, two countries that focus on crisis fears of European debt, will change hands. In Greece, Lucas Papademos, former Vice President of the European Central Bank (ECB) has éténommé at the head of a government of national unity. In his first statement, he said that the euro is a "guarantee of monetary stability." The new Greek prime minister should take the oath at noon today.

Asian markets reassured by the euro area

October 13, 2011 - 11:04 am Comments Off

Morale is looking good again this Thursday on the Asian markets. After being cooled by the Slovak parliament not the strengthening of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), investors in the region are now reassured by the statements of European leaders to end the debt crisis. They have shown their approval for an urgent recapitalization of banks in the euro area. Analysts see it as an important change: the euro area is now considered a default of Greece as an option.

Operators also appreciate the position of the European Commission called for a strike force increased EFSF. In this regard, the Slovak government promises a new vote in Parliament no later than tomorrow, Friday. These news had boosted European and U.S. markets to new heights yesterday.

A weaker yen

Direct impact on the markets, the euro is rising again.It is 1.3801 dollar and is trading around 106.30 yen this morning sharply higher against the Japanese currency. In Japan, the Nikkei is relieved by the weakening of the currency. One hour of closing, he climbed 0.86% to 8814 points. Export values, hit recently by concerns over the global economy is picking up. TDK Corp jumped 4.17%, 2.96% Sharp and Citizen Holdings 3.05%. The automotive sector is also up to the image of Mazda Motor (4.49%) and Hyundai (2.7%).

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and Shanghai respectively earn 18,680 points to 1.91% and 0.50% to 2432 points. As for ads, the trade surplus of China has contracted to 14.51 billion dollars last month with a slower growth of exports.They rose in September by 17.1% year on year to reach 169.7 billion dollars, slower than imports jumped 20.9% to $ 155.2 billion dollars.

The Korean Kospi advance of 1.11% to 1829 points and the S & P Australian 0.85% to 4240 points, relieved by the authorization granted by the competition authorities Virgin Australia (1.59%) for an alliance Singapore Airlines (1.52%).

Oil markets more cautious

The oil was however down Thursday in Asia, where the market wait before the publication of figures on weekly petroleum reserves in the United States. In electronic trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for November delivery lost 86 cents to 84.71 dollars. Barrel of Brent North Sea crude for November delivery yielded nine cents to 111.27 dollars for the last trading day of the deadline.

Nobel: Beijing takes it out on Norwegian salmon

October 8, 2011 - 8:52 pm Comments Off

The award, last year's Nobel Peace jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was an unexpected victim: salmon from Norway, host of the committee awarding the famous distinctions.

Furious at the sudden media exposure of Liu – they consider a "criminal" – Chinese authorities have in fact increased the veterinary strengthened against Norwegian salmon. The AFP ensures that the health tests are so extensive that these fish end up rotting in warehouses.

Result, exports of Norwegian salmon in China have fallen by half during the first eight months of 2011, Oslo hoped an increase of at least 30%. Three figures sum up the confusion of Scandinavian fishermen. December 2010, the date of the ceremony: 1000 tons sold. January 2011: 315 tonnes. February 2011, 75 tonnes.Norwegian exporters have tried to go through Hong Kong, but this shortcut stale quickly resulted in an impasse.

The operation antisaumon is very symbolic, since the other Chinese imports from Norway were up by 16% because of higher commodity prices. It is true that to meet their urgent needs of the Chinese energy resources are much less fussy.

Of French investors affected by the rise of the Swiss franc

October 7, 2011 - 8:16 am Comments Off

The rise of the Swiss franc does not penalize only the inhabitants of the Helvetic Confederation. It also makes havoc among bank customers. The French Association of bank users (AFUB) has already received nearly a hundred and fifty complaints from individuals who have subscribed to loans indexed to the Swiss currency. "But according to our estimates, at least fifteen thousand people were involved across France," Serge evaluates Master, managing director of the association. Financial products attractive at first sight, but which have proved extremely costly since the flight of the franc.

Almost all the loans that AFUB is aware have been contracted in 2008 or 2009 with Crédit Agricole and BNP Paribas. In one third of cases, these loans were to finance the purchase of a principal residence, the others having been made in the context of a rental investment."It's BNP Paribas has been the most offensive. 70% of the loans we have studied have also been contracted to her. These banks were dangling their customers better rates, while ensuring that the franc would remain stable, "said Serge Master.

A law in Hungary

This analysis proved wrong. Safe haven in the crisis, the Swiss franc has appreciated almost 25% between early January and late summer, causing an extra cost of the same magnitude for the subscribers. With money borrowed in the range of 200,000 euros to 300,000 euros, the difference is significant.

If the monthly payments have not changed, the duration of loans as the amount still outstanding has increased drastically. On a forum, a client of BNP Paribas complains, for example, seeing his outstanding capital increase from 133,000 euros to 162,000 euros in the space of a year and a half.

Solutions seem possible, however, in each case. "For three cases, the banks agreed to enter into an agreement with their client. They could exchange their loans indexed to the Swiss franc against a loan in euros. But the whole point of the negotiations is who supports the additional costs of increasing the currency of Switzerland. Banks have sometimes agreed to take half their dependents, "said Serge Master.

In Hungary, where the phenomenon took on a different scale – two thirds of the loans are currently denominated in Swiss francs – the government took drastic measures. A recent law forced banks to exchange the loans against loans in forints, with a fixed preferential 25% below the current market rate. For banks, this measure will cost. Austrian institutions, highly established in Hungary, could include losing the order of 6 billion euros.Furious, the sector has entered the Hungarian Constitutional Court, without success. But the EU could declare the process illegal.

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Job creation slowed employees

September 9, 2011 - 5:52 am Comments Off

Despite zero growth in the second quarter, the French economy continues to create jobs, but at a slower pace. Payroll employment grew by 0.2% in the second quarter, according to INSEE and employment center, and 0.3%, according to ACOSS. This low growth follows the sharp rise in the previous quarter (0.3% employment center, and even 0.5% or INSEE ACOSS).

Depending on whether one considers the figures released by the three institutions, which use slightly different methods of calculation but that publish their data at the same time Thursday morning, it was 33,000 to 55,000 jobs were created during the second quarter . The French economy finds a job creation rate closer to that of 2010.

Fewer jobs created in the tertiary sector, the most promising

The tertiary sector is once again benefiting the most from this dynamic.By itself, it carries the bulk of net job creations. Payroll employment rose to 0.3% (0.4% according to ACOSS), although note that INSEE has created half the jobs in the previous quarter (69,200 to 32,100 jobs against first quarter) fast cash advance loan.

Employment in industry also continues to stabilize. After ten years of bleeding, loss of this sector had continued to widen in the first quarter. Again, the industry recorded a near-stability of its workforce, with 300 stations destroyed in the second quarter as employment center, a flat evolution, also observed by ACOSS. Perhaps a sign that the adjustment of long-term employment in the sector is nearing its end.

Finally, the interim, a leading indicator of employment, is down sharply, however. After two years of steady increase, temporary employment drops to 0.5% over the quarter.A change in both positive and negative, in part due to a higher reactivity of the interim depressed economic conditions, and another part in more sustainable employment creation by firms.