8 Feb
Leaders of the main Greek political parties have again postponed the meeting scheduled for 24 hours on Tuesday to accept the reforms demanded by donors in exchange for Athens a second aid plan.
A party official who declined to be identified said the postponement was due to the fact that the leaders of the three features had not yet received the text of the draft agreement on this bailout of 130 billion euros.
While demonstrators gathered in Athens burned the German flag, Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to ease tensions. "I will do nothing to force Greece out of Euro", she assured, responding to a Greek student in a meeting with young people in Berlin.
His Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte has however not ruled out such an output. "The rest of the euro area is now strong enough (…) so we can deal with an output of Greece, a Greece faces serious problems," he said ;.
A half an hour of their meeting, scheduled at 19:00 GMT, the leaders of the Socialist Party, New Democracy (right) and Laos (far right) who support the government of Lucas Papadé ; mos still had not received the draft agreement with the IMF and the European Union.
"We can not say yes or no frank without assurances from the competent authorities of the State that these measures are constitutional and that the country will emerge from the crisis," said George Karatzaferis, leader of Laos. "We have time. Since it is about the future of the state, we find the time, "he said
To avoid being insolvent in late March, Athens has been negotiating for months with the troika (International Monetary Fund, European Union and European Central Bank) the granting of the second aid tranche
. Negotiations between Lucas Papademos and donors took almost all night from Monday to Tuesday, until 04:00 (2:00 GMT), right at the start the first walkouts in ports. "No ship left the port of Piraeus this morning, due to the strike of seamen," said a spokesman for the coastguard.
The movement was launched at the call of the main unions, GSEE (private) and ADEDY (public), to denounce a policy which, they say, threatens to lead the country in a destructive spiral.
The Acropolis was closed to tourists, public transport was disrupted during rush hours, hospital staff is minimized. Teachers, employees of banks or telecommunications plan to join the movement.
Scuffles broke out between Syntagma Square police and demonstrators who tried to climb the steps leading to parliament chanting "No to the medieval working conditions, do not give head , resist ".
Participation seemed a little weaker than in previous rallies in recent months, the rain had apparently been due to the desire of some protesters.
"They (the government) were saved by the rain. The weather did not allow the protesters to take to the streets and show their anger, "he told Reuters Ilias Iliopoulos, general secretary of public sector union, ADEDY
. "FINDING A SOLUTION"
Lucas Papademos, Vice-old President of the European Central Bank (ECB), must now convince the leaders of three parties in the diverse coalition that supports it to accept the conditions imposed by the EU and the IMF ..
……. "We must find a solution today," said a government official before the meeting between parties …….
.. The Greek finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos, has meanwhile said the talks between his government and the "troika" – Lender EU, IMF, ECB – were difficult.
"Unfortunately, the negotiations are so difficult that when a chapter is closed, another opens," he said Monday night.
Tuesday, a source close to the talks we had yet reported progress in discussions. "Our positions are not as far apart as before," said, adding that both sides were working on the contours of the political program that Athens will apply to enter the second plan help.
After weeks of dealings, several important questions have still not been resolved.
COST OF WORK
Greece has yet to find 600 million euros in savings for the current year, a total of 3.3 billion, said a government official.
Troika also requires that the cost of labor in the private sector is reduced by about one fifth. It proposes to do this by lowering the minimum wage by 20% – which would affect the entire pay scale – by eliminating premiums paid leave or certain sectoral wage agreements.
Europe seeks new austerity is accepted by the Greek government coalition and approved by the Troika before February 15, time to settle then the procedures complex techniques involved in an agreement between Athens and its private creditors on a debt exchange.
The EU hopes to avoid a default "disorderly" of Greece, which must be repaid in March 14.5 billion euros of bonds maturing .
The President of the Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Juncker, said Tuesday he had no doubt on the future of Greece in the euro area, provided that the country meets its obligations vis-à-vis other members of the single currency.
Free business cards is an innovation that is a boon to any businessperson who is on a budget. And don't think that because you're on a budget and the business cards are free that they look cheap.24 Nov
According to a Financial Times ranking, the current Minister of Economy holds the 15th place among the most influential ministers in the European Union. Before leaving Bercy for the IMF, Christine Lagarde had held the top spot on this list. The new Executive Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, said goodbye to the National Assembly Wednesday, June 29 It is replaced as Minister of Economy and Finance by Baroin
Baroin do not forget Christine Lagarde, French Minister of Finance holds an unenviable 15th position in the ranking of European central bankers prepared annually by the Financial Times, while his predecessor was the star. Mr.
The European Commission estimates that the pooling of borrowing countries in the euro area could quickly alleviate the current crisis. The counterpart would be a strengthening of fiscal discipline. The President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso (here at a press conference in Brussels April 13, 2011)
The European Commission Wednesday will propose the creation of eurobonds, a system seen by its promoters as a means of achieving sustainable solutions to the debt crisis, but that divides Europeans and has as its corollary a strengthening of fiscal discipline. In a "Green Paper" seen by AFP, the European Commission considers that this pooling of borrowing countries in the euro area could "rapidly reduce" the current crisis.Countries that need external assistance, as now Greece, Ireland and Portugal, should be subjected to "enhanced monitoring", argued Mr Barroso.
The Commission proposals provide for such a development also for the states under the excessive deficit procedure against the limit of 3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) set by the Stability Pact. Today, almost all EU countries are concerned. Europe may well require them to review their copy if the budget passed by their parliaments become too lax compared to the common rules of discipline. A proposal that is likely to generate heated debate in national parliaments.
The President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano charged Sunday the former European Commissioner Mario Monti to form a new government is responsible for putting in order the finances to reassure financial markets and European partners in Rome.
After the resignation of Silvio Berlusconi, left under the jeers of thousands of Romans, the head of state has mandated that as planned economics professor aged 68 to lead a cabinet should be composed mainly of technocrats.
In a brief speech a few minutes after the announcement of his appointment by the Quirinal Palace, Mario Monti has promised to conduct "with a sense of urgency but with care" consultations to establish the composition of his government.
ONE YEAR AND A HALF FOR REDRESS OF ITALY
The uncertainty of recent weeks Italy has strongly penalized in the bond markets, and Rome hopes that the arrival of Mario Monti will reassure the financial community.
"The country must become a pillar of strength, not a weak link in the European Union that we were among the founders," said the former European Commissioner for Competition.
The objective of the new government will be "to improve the financial situation and resume the path of growth in a context of increased attention to social justice," he added, saying that Italy could "overcome difficulties by a joint effort. "
"We owe it to our children," said the economist.
27 Oct
The Italian prime minister will present this evening in Brussels a letter in which he promises savings measures in the country, notably to extend the retirement age to 67. The Italian Minister of Economy, Giulio Tremonti, and the prime minister Silvio Berlusconi
After intense negotiations with the Northern League and a minimal agreement on pensions, the Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi Wednesday in Brussels will present a letter in which he undertakes to carry out economic reforms, reports the press. The letter of fifteen pages, the Cavaliere, who managed in extremis Tuesday night in a minimal agreement on pensions with its ally the Northern League, said the government's desire to raise the retirement age of "old age" of 65 to 67 in 2026.
But in reality, this decision does not change much, according to the newspaper noted that in 2026, the retirement age should already nearly 67 years as a result of reforms adopted in recent years, including one providing for gradual increase in the retirement age based on life expectancy. The League is however remained adamant about the "retirement pensions" that allow currently retire at 60 with 36 years of contributions and any age from 40 years of contributions. In addition to retirement, Mr. Berlusconi engaged in the letter to adopt speedy measures to boost growth promised this summer but have not been presented because of the divisions of the majority.
Rome has involved the liberalization of professions and local public services, simplifying the administration, the revitalization of infrastructure projects, facilitating dismissals or the tightening of rules to replace retiring employees. The government also promises to accelerate the sale of public assets to reduce the huge debt of 1,900 billion euros (120% of GDP) that worries the markets. Berlusconi also points in this letter, according to press reports, draconian austerity measures adopted in recent months for a total of 60 billion euros by 2014, which will allow Italy to meet balanced budget by 2013.
Contacted by AFP, a spokesman for the presidency declined to comment. Mr.Berlusconi has been put up against the wall Sunday by its European partners who asked him to make firm commitments on reforms and debt reduction in order to reassure the markets and to ensure that Italy is the next victim the debt crisis, which would jeopardize the entire euro area.
20 Oct
The Libyan leader was ousted in Sirte on Thursday killed according to the National Transitional Council (CNT). The dictator Muamar Gaddafi of Libya
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi ousted captured in Sirte died Thursday, according to a commander of the new regime in this town east of Tripoli and Libyan television. "We announce to the world that Gaddafi has died at the hands of the revolutionaries," he told the press the official spokesman of the National Transitional Council (CNT) to Benghazi (east), Abdel Hafez Ghoga.
"This is a historic moment, it's the end of tyranny and dictatorship. Kadhafi met his fate," he said. He said the information of his death "was confirmed by our commanders on the ground in Sirte, the very people who captured Gaddafi when he was wounded during the battle in Sirte". "We also have information on a convoy that was bombed by NATO while fleeing Sirte.There are reports of the presence of Gaddafi's son in this convoy, we are to check, "he added.
Libyan television "Libya Free" in Tripoli had previously stated that a son of Muammar Gaddafi "Mouatassim Daou and Mansour (the head of internal security services), and Abdallah Senussi," the head of Libyan intelligence, had been captured in Sirte.
Another witness quoted by Reuters said that Gaddafi reportedly shouted "Do not shoot, do not shoot", when it was found.
Follow the event minute by minute LExpress.fr
19 Oct
Bank of America reported an increase in its net income for the third quarter due to both an accounting effect that banks can reap when financial markets are turbulent and a gain on disposals of assets.
The hotel, the first U.S. bank by assets, posted over the period net income of $ 5.9 billion, or $ 0.56 per share against a loss of $ 7.6 billion (-0 , 77 dollar per share) a year ago, when the bank had spent $ 10.4 billion accounting charge.
17 Oct
More than one million low-income households eligible for social tariffs of electricity and gas do not qualify now, because of the complexity of the award procedure. EDF and GDF will cross their files with those of beneficiaries of supplementary CMU.
Social tariffs for electricity and gas, more than one million beneficiaries do not receive very modest at present, will be automated from 1 January 2012, announced Monday in a statement the Minister of Energy, Eric Besson. The minister seized Monday the Supreme Council of the energy of a draft decree automating their allocation to households with incomes below the ceiling of the supplementary CMU, or 7,771 euros per year for a single person or 11,657 euros for a couple .
Only 600,000 households currently receive social tariffs for electricity or gas, so that 1.5 to 2 million households are eligible, according to the government, a situation that was "not acceptable" according to M . Besson. This phenomenon was explained by both the complexity of the award procedure and the modesty of copyright holders who waived the claim.
Reduction of 88 euros for electricity and 142 euros for gas
According to EDF, the average reduction of invoice driven by the social tariff of electricity (created in 2000 and established in 2005) is 88 euros per year. Reducing Gas (adopted in 2006 and implemented in 2008) it amounts to 142 euros per year.Eligible households will benefit rates "without having to step in" with the file of recipients of supplementary CMU, under control of the National Commission on Informatics and Liberties (CNIL), the ministry said in a statement.
To avoid excluding people who forgot to extend their rights to CMU, the rights to social tariffs will run six months longer than the CMU, according to the draft decree. The decree, the government had promised, following the adoption last year of law Nome (New Market Organisation of Electricity), which already provided for automation rates for households with the lowest incomes.
6 Oct
Driven by hopes of a European bank recapitalization, stock markets continued to grow yesterday. Pars won 0.9%, but Apple's stock in Frankfurt drop 4% following the death of Steve Jobs. Traders on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The DAX ended Tuesday, August 9 close to balance, down 0.10% at 5917.08 points, after an erratic session.
European shares continued their positive momentum on Thursday after strong rebound Wednesday, still driven by hopes of a coordinated recapitalization of banks in Europe to help them withstand the debt crisis in the eurozone. At the opening, the Paris showed a gain of 0.89% on expectations of support measures from the European Central Bank (ECB) to banks in the wake of the mobilization of political leadership on this issue.
In the first few exchanges, Frankfurt progressed from 0.70%.But the action of the American Apple dropped to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange after the announcement of the death Wednesday night of the group's co-founder Steve Jobs. The action, which is listed on the open market in Frankfurt, most U.S. markets, lost 3.8% to 272.20 euros at 9:11. The death of Steve Jobs, "one of the greatest American inventors" according to Barack Obama on Wednesday to 56 years, has generated an avalanche of responses to the measure of character, became the symbol of the success of the firm at the apple.
In other European stock markets, London progressed by 0.65%, Madrid and Milan by 0.50% to 0.55%. Wednesday, Paris won 4.33%, London 3.19%, 4.91% Frankfurt, Madrid and Milan 3.06% 3.94% despite the downgrade of the sovereign debt of Italy by Moody's. The strong rebound in European stock markets Wednesday has spread across the Atlantic, where the New York Stock Exchange also ended sharply higher Wednesday.
Back optimism also in Asia on Thursday morning. The Tokyo Stock Exchange ended the session with a gain of 1.66% while Hong Kong, Seoul and Sydney also evolved significantly positive territory. Shanghai was closed Thursday. After weeks of dithering, European leaders rallied Wednesday to prevent a collapse of the banking sector, weakened by the debt crisis, which brought down the French-Belgian group Dexia.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was "justified" to recapitalize European banks in need, stressing that "time was running out" and that his country was ready to do "if necessary". "The German government is ready, if necessary, to achieve a recapitalization" of banks at home, assured the Chancellor, not excluding that the matter be discussed at the highest level at the next EU summit in Brussels on 17 and October 18.
The daily Die Welt, Merkel intends to convince French President Nicolas Sarkozy to act quickly to support banks, at their meeting on Sunday, while Paris would rather wait. Finance ministers of the EU have asked the parallel European banking regulator (EBA) to assess the impact on the banks of a deep discount applied to the obligations of the Greek state, reported the Financial Times. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), he, actually suggested Wednesday to inject 100 to 200 billion euros in the biggest European banks to stabilize the area.
In this context, as investors wait to see, around 1:45 p.m., what will be the decision of the European Central Bank (ECB) on interest rates. This is the last meeting chaired by Jean-Claude Trichet, whose eight-year term as head of the ECB ends October 31.The ECB raised its key rate twice this year for fear of inflation, this time could announce a reduction to support the economy in crisis in the euro area.
3 Oct
LyondellBasell employees were extended on Monday the strike and blocking the production units of the group. The SP displays its support for the movement and the government provides "mobilize." LyondellBasell employees are on strike against the planned closure of the Berre refinery, which employs 370 people.
Employees of the U.S. company LyondellBasell have extended their Monday strike and blocking the production sites of the group. They protest against the closure of a refinery in Berre L'Etang (Bouches-du-Rhone). Several hundred people took part in the vote at a general meeting in mid-day, as part of the action taken after the September 27 announcement of the closure by management.
The refinery and production units in September LyondellBasell are blocked at the site of Berre L'Etang, and a fuel depot in Rognac and propylene oxide plant at Fos-sur-Mer, two neighboring towns. Staff representatives were sent to the Directorate Sunday, through their lawyers, questions about the future of the site but have not received a response for now, their last contact dating back to Thursday night they say.
The closure of the refinery would cover the approximately 370 employees to 1,250, in total, working in the petrochemical complex of the American group around the Etang de Berre. In recent days, the political reactions are multiplying on the subject. Martine Aubry, the Socialist candidate in the primary, on Monday expressed its "solidarity" with employees. It asks the Prime Minister to consider "alternatives to closing track".The mayor of Lille also known as "shared anger and anxiety of employees: see anger on the part of LyondellBasell's refusal to dialogue and put forward false numbers to justify for a purely financial and stock market, and concern before the uncertainty over the future of a site which employs 1,250 employees and thousands of subcontractors. " According to her, "the passivity of the government to a matter as serious, witnessed the acceleration of the industrialization of our country is unacceptable. It is not enough to say, as the Minister of Industry, that" his services are closely monitoring the ".
"The challenge of this case is the local district, regional and national levels"
Indeed, Eric Besson said Saturday that the government "mobilizing" all its means to ensure the future of the site.But he admitted not yet be able to indicate what decisions it would take to sustain the site. The Minister of Industry is expected to receive in the coming days the unions and the management of LyondellBasell said a ministry statement. The Ministry, it was recognized that the state could not force a company to maintain an activity when it decided to stop or suspend. The Government will ensure that LyondellBasell fulfills its reclassification as employees affected by this closure affect redundancy pay sufficiently "important," one said.
The case began to take a political turn with the Saturday site visit by the candidate for the primary Socialist Francois Hollande, who has held a "roundtable indispensable" for "transparency about the intentions of the group" and "how we can keep the whole chain from refinery to petrochemicals. " "The challenge of this case, it is not just a refinery is a potential that can, if nothing is clarified in the coming days, to be phased in question, or even disappear. It is a challenge local, district, regional and national, "he told reporters, after meeting a half hour with Inter (CGT, CFDT, CFE-CGC, FOR, CFTC).