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It's in a week, according to our information, that Switzerland will provide the Paris prosecutor's office the result of letters rogatory requested to check whether two of the three executives on suspicion of espionage and licensees have received money in accounts in that country , as stated by the manufacturer. Whether or not an account on behalf of a third part will Liechtenstein, it was announced in three weeks.

While executives say they are innocent and that Renault has never provided any evidence of their guilt, doubts grow about the strength of the charges. Matthieu Tenenbaum, former deputy director of the Electric Vehicle program, would not account for the Zürcher Kantonalbank, according to information transmitted orally by the Paris prosecutor in Switzerland, according to sources close to the investigation corroborating information from Duck chains.The prosecution, however, expected a written document to confirm this information.

Already, people close to the investigation believe more and more likely that Renault has been the victim of a scam. The group's management, who pounded his "certainties" about the guilt of executives, has become less categorical. "We are awaiting the results of letters rogatory. Let us have been victims of espionage or fraud and, in this case, someone wanted that separates these three people, "said one headquarters.

When the results of investigations bank will be known, two scenarios are possible. Is a frame (or several) to an account abroad: it will be heard by the police for "violation of trade secret." Either there is nothing, and the investigation will turn to Renault, to understand how the fraud has occurred.Management will face justice for his decision to dismiss managers without real evidence, while internal investigators asked for an extension.

Mysterious informant

In this case, the group should also give explanations on the methods used by his security service, which seems to have used a mysterious informant located in Belgium for information transmitted orally. In the case of fraud, false information could have been made either by that means, either by the security service itself. The whole question would then know for what purpose.

Another source of interrogation, the letter of layoff provided to three frames based on two elements: the supposed existence of bank accounts abroad and the letter of denunciation received in August. However, reading this letter is perplexing."In May this year, I saw Mr. Michel Balthazard negotiate a jar of wine, claiming that if Bob Bell, F1, would profit from it too wanted to enjoy it and feed his bank account. He added: "During another conversation, he spoke of the" little kid who works with Koskas (Matthew Tenenbaum, Ed), who understands how it works to fill his bank account. He concluded: "Of course, I have no proof, of course, is the accusation, but I do not care.I can not stand to see people fly properly paid more money. "Where are the" technical term that has tilt, "and" converging evidence "that had led the manufacturer to take this letter seriously" ? "How can we launch an investigation on the basis of such a letter? Is it credible that the crow was able to see my client negotiate before him a jar of wine? "Asks Mr. Thouvenin, one of the lawyers of Michel Balthazard.

If the case should be "pschitt, the consequences would be disastrous for the group's image.And the credibility of its chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, who spoke after evidence "multiple" on TF1, asked two weeks ago it still "trust" because "tens of people have analyzed the facts."

The alliance with Nissan could evolve

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault-Nissan, will examine the capital structure of the alliance to improve the balance between the two manufacturers. "We will review the financial structure, not for reaching a merger (…) but to answer the main concern of investors who say" maybe you use too much capital for your financial structure, '"said Dual CEO Reuters. Renault owns 43.4% of Nissan, which in turn owns 15%.Moribund when Renault came into its capital in 1999, the Japanese now weighs more than twice the French stock exchange.

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A real setback. Household consumption of manufactured goods fell 0.5% in January, according to figures released Friday by the INSEE. Other bad news, the jump in spending by French observed in December was revised down from 0.6% to 0.4%. The decline in January mainly due to the drop in auto purchases by 6.3% in January. In addition, purchases of textiles and leather fell 1.8% despite sales.

Cushioning the fall, spending on household equipment held up well, up 2.4% on the month "because of the dynamism of furniture purchases," said INSEE. "Other manufactured products", such as watches and jewelry, DIY and hardware rose 1.1% in January. These figures are "clearly encouraging", says Dominique Barbet, an economist at BNP Paribas."They are more in line with the strong confidence of business leaders found earlier this year with the declining morale of households freecreditscore."

Households increasingly fear a return of inflation, Insee said in the release of the index of consumer sentiment on Thursday. Involved, soaring oil prices which "the psychological impact is very important," as emphasized Alexander Law, chief economist at Xerfi. Particularly because it is a recurring purchase for households. "This climate of suspicion certainly attend a further drop in consumption over the coming weeks," said Alexander Law, chief economist at Xerfi."Without alternative sources of growth, French economic growth will suffer inevitably."

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After being snubbed in 2010, the Livret A is it taking its revenge on life insurance, the other place occupied by the French? According to figures released Wednesday by the French association of insurance, the amount of life insurance premiums collected in January 2011 declined 11% over the same month last year to 11.8 billion euros.

For combination, this double-digit decline can be explained at least partly by rising rates of remuneration of the Livret A. Increased to 2% – instead of 1.75% – 1 February, the rate of pay, even if it remains near its record low, making it less attractive to certain life insurance contracts. In 2010, contracts in euros have indeed reported between 3.20% and 3.40%, before taking into account inflation. With inflation at 1.8%, the yield of the Livret A is positive.Most importantly, this product is considered a safe investment, and this contributes to its success in times of crisis.

Life insurance keeps the advantage in terms of net inflows

For now, the net inflows of life insurance, that is to say the sums paid amputees are removed from all contracts, is still higher than the Livret A cheap business cards. It was 4.6 billion euros, representing a 35% drop compared with 2010, but exceeds 3.76 billion collected by the Livret A in January, its highest total for two years.

The daily Les Echos, insurers, however, look to the future with caution. For two years, contributions grew more slowly indeed. They were up 4% last year instead of 13% in 2009. This year, growth is also forecast to below 4%. Another unknown could also weigh on life insurance.The government is currently working on reforming the taxation of wealth, and the system of life insurance could be changed. In 1997, the questioning part of tax and social benefits of life insurance had caused a fall of 17% of the collection.

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Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphic.

Europe stands on Wednesday a review of measures taken in December 2008 in favor of the 23 million SMEs which employ over 90 million people and represent over 67% of private sector jobs in the European Union. This initiative called Small Business Act aims to promote the access of firms employing fewer than 250 employees in finance, public procurement, to accelerate their implementation internationally, to simplify the relations with the administrations and encourage the 'entrepreneurship.

But it is more about principles of binding provisions such as those established by the Americans since 1953.Despite the absence of a genuine European Action Plan, progress has been made for two years because the crisis has encouraged governments to help small businesses hit hard by the economic and financial difficulties. They have lost nearly 3,250,000 jobs.

France has, for example, reduces payment times, eliminated the business tax – two decisions that apply to all businesses – and established the regime autoentreprenor since 1 January 2009. A move welcomed by Brussels. France, like Poland, Ireland and Iceland have established programs to encourage women to become entrepreneurs. These actions allow us to be in the European average and to beat Germany in the field of entrepreneurship.

Countries to reduce administrative procedures.France will hold in a few weeks the foundation for simplification to facilitate relations between the state and the bosses. Germany has made significant progress in betting on the Internet. But it remains in the EU average with a period of 18 days to start a business in seven days against 13 days in France and Britain. Italy has made significant efforts cons in this area by focusing on IT. Just one day to the Italians to create their company since April 2010. Spain has reduced both the time to start a company (17.5 days against 29 days previously) and registration costs (115 euros against 617 euros). Result, the average time in Europe to develop his company is more than 7 days against 12 days in 2007.The costs of this approach has fallen into the same time to 399 euros against 485 euros.

Progress

Several measures have been taken both in the funding of internationalization. Austria launched in 2008 a grant from the transmission business. The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Portugal and other countries including France encourage the internationalization of SMEs.

Despite progress, Brussels has decided to continue to steam. "SMEs are the engine of the European economy. They must be strong, competitive and innovative. States must act quickly so that the Small Business Act to be translated into facts, "said Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship.He hoped that SMEs remain a priority for Europe in the coming years because they are the ones who create jobs.

If, on the political front, he has decided to maintain the suspense, the director general of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Kahn did not go around the bush to discuss the global economic crisis. "Considerable progress is being made, [...], but they are much too slow, we are far from", says in an interview face to readers of Le Parisien, Aujourd'hui en France published Monday.

The crisis in Europe

As the world tries to get out somehow this economic and financial crisis, Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned, using its ambiguous wording. "You mouth holes but others are created. The act of drawing lessons does not guarantee that we will prevent all future crises. This is what is most worrisome, "he warns.

This does not preclude the IMF Managing Director to distribute good points."All of Asia is distributed, also Latin America, with the same risk of overheating," he says. Even Africa is complimented: "Africa is rather better," says DSK. However, if "Europe has avoided the catastrophe," it off again more slowly and it may last. Missing from the euro zone it has not since the beginning: more coordinated economic policies, "he says. And for that, he insists that "the States to waive part of their sovereignty. However, fashion is not so much to have more Europe today …».

"The euro

"There has not really had a crisis of the euro as its currency." Unsurprisingly, the IMF Managing Director supports the European currency, while some are calling for the abandonment of the euro. "A vast deception," he says.The countries that come out of the euro area would lose much of the confidence necessary for a good economic situation. "

For DSK, banks are as responsible as those who were to supervise "and did not the police." Thus, in regulating the banking sector, he lamented that the good will of the states have not been implemented. "What I find shocking is that banks today have returned to practice before the current crisis, including pay and bonus, he offended. Me, I heard some politicians say "never again". Result: The bonus came back as before. "Bad points for France or the United States, which claimed the control of a bonus in banks of their warhorses.

"The 35 hours

On social issues such as 35 hours, retirement or tax on capital, Dominique Strauss Kahn was less talkative.

About 35 hours, he recalls that "it is a historical process that is due to improvements in productivity and should be considered at the scale of life." He added: "Overall, the long-term time employment is still a downward trend in all developed countries," he says.

"Retirement

Regarding retirement, he confirms what he said on France 2 last May ("Retirement at age 60 is not a dogma")."If life continues to grow, we can not hold with fewer people working to pay the pensions of more and more people," he replies to other members of his party, the Party Socialists, with whom he disagrees on this issue. Without taking a position on the reform undertaken by the government, it simply states that "the purpose of a pension system is that it be fair to those who worked longer or shorter time, under conditions more or less difficult and just vis-à-vis assets.

"The tax on capital

Finally, while asserting that "the IMF has no vision on the TFR French," he recalls "the need for taxes on income, consumption and wealth. The more we diversify the sources of direct contributions, the more likely it is to be fair. "

The stage at Brussels was not to last as long. Friday night, two Thalys from Amsterdam to Paris and were forced to spend the night at the stop at Brussels Midi station, registering a total delay of about 14 hours on their arrival in Paris on Saturday morning.

The origin of this disruption, a technical default on the first train left at 6:16 p.m. Friday in Amsterdam. To remedy this, the train is coupled to a second train has left the Venice of the North one hour later.The operation takes a long time, so much so that the arrival of two trains in Brussels to 23 hours, it is too late to pursue the road: "The network of high speed rail network in France (RFF) was already closed at night for maintenance, "said a spokesman for Thalys, Patricia Baars.

"We tried everything, but it was not possible to make the trains run outside the operating hours of commercial network," French said the representative of the rail consortium.

Not enough room at the hotel

And the trouble does not stop there. As it is too late to implement an alternative system of transportation by bus, according to Patricia Baars, passengers are forced to spend the night there.But again, a new obstacle: "It was not possible to find hotels in the immediate vicinity of the Brussels-Midi station to house some 400 people," says Patricia Baars.

Some passengers decide to leave to go and look for a hotel in downtown Brussels, at their expense. The approximately 250 remaining up for the night. "They received a meal and hot drinks. The train was heated, and watched the train, "said Patricia Baars figaro.fr.

Not really a version shared by Marta Ayala, 38, transient. Station in Brussels, "everyone left the train. Workers, drivers, everyone is gone. Without telling us anything, "she testified. "The passengers left the train to get information. There was nobody on the docks. Thalys offices were closed, "she added, pointing to photos taken in the night.

"Around 0:15, the security personnel were brought boxes of food. Still no explanation. Then at 6:30 this morning, we were told to change trains, "she adds angrily. "I paid 200 euros, just the casual, the service terrible."

Thalys says that all passengers will be reimbursed for their tickets, and any other compensation – for nights hotels, missed connections – will be considered on a case by case basis.

Both trains were eventually depart at 6:40 Saturday morning, arriving with a delay of 14 hours for the first Thalys 6:16 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. respectively. This is roughly equivalent to that recorded by the drill nuitStrasbourg Port Bou / Nice, who had accumulated a series of incidents during the night of December 26 to 27.

The drama of the Central Committee (IAC) of Air France continues. The institution which oversees 7 of 8 committees of institutions (EC) of the airline will have to find € 20.5 million to continue its operations in 2011 after having had need 15 million additional to survive 2010. The report of the representative ad hoc court in Bobigny, called the end of 2010 at the head of CEC gives an overview of a situation of near bankruptcy for several months, however, contradicted by the unions in charge of EAC. According to this document, including Le Figaro has obtained a copy, the institution has escaped bankruptcy in 2010 with Air France and its banks. "It is indisputable that the financing requirements of about 15 million euros have been covered with the help of Air France and three banks," he says so.

The first bailout was not enough, however, since the CEC will again have to find additional funds to avoid bankruptcy in 2011. The report indicates that "it remains necessary to negotiate with the banks of the EAC with a credit line to finance the needs of 2011, estimated between 11.3 and 14.5 million euros", "to amount must be added an estimated $ 6 million necessary for the replenishment of working capital, "so it's a total realizable assets of at least 20.5 million euros that will be reached.

Transfer of part of the heritage

To exit the institution of the rut, the report recommends a voluntary separation plan and the sale of part of the heritage valued at 121 million euros. According to our information, the site of Gassin on the Riviera could be sold quickly."Its ideal location, a few kilometers from Saint-Tropez, should enable us to draw a substantial amount," said a steward of the company fast payday loans. The report also calls for structural reforms and pointed out that subsidies to Air France (42 million euros per year) are "used up to 41%, the balance being used for the operation of the EAC." It is necessary "that the CEC is refocusing on its purpose, concludes the document to officials from Air France on holiday and not paying overhead." For the CEC to continue these activities, her office has requested "a liquidity facility" – ie an overdraft – 10 million euros of trade unions met in session on Thursday night. He lost his application. "It's a terrible muddle," says one shop steward. The grant of the first half has already been swallowed.We are awaiting the completion of workplace elections and the appointment of a new office to start from scratch. "

CCE Air France has been the subject of an audit in 2009 that criticized its management and in particular "purpose personal expenses" of its leaders. He then underwent an investigation by the financial police who was interested in possible wrongdoing. Nothing has been proved. In September, the auditor who wrote a "warning report. Despite this progressive decline in the bankruptcy, unions still deny any situation of insolvency. In a press release issued Thursday, the office of the CEC is pleased to have maintained "a CCE in working order and have laid the foundation for its reconstruction." And conclude that "the CEC has survived the turmoil of 2010 and continues to function."

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Atos Origin has more than tripled its net profit in 2010 to 116 million euros and has "achieved its objectives." Without taking into account exceptional items, net income amounted to 218 million euros (+11%). The computer services company also released on Wednesday morning a turnover of him, down 3.5% over one year to 5.02 billion euros, as expected by financial analysts.

As for the operating margin, it amounts to 337 million euros, representing 6.7% of turnover, or the top of the range estimated above.Finally, the orders have registered an increase of 7% over the past year, to 5.6 billion euros, including France, Rexel new contracts with EADS and Michelin, the Netherlands and Philips ING and still in Germany with Karstadt.

A publication of no great surprise, but Thierry Breton, CEO of Atos Origin is pleased that the group has "achieved its objectives," including that reset the counters in its net debt – excluding acquisitions – to zero. "This puts the company in the best conditions to accelerate the integration of Siemens IT Solutions and Services (SIS)." Together, the two groups will form the new European leader and world number seven, by generating an estimated turnover of 8.7 billion euros for 2010, with a workforce of 78,500 employees worldwide.A sales level similar to that produced by Capgemini, the other great French actor of IT services in 2009. For 2013, the turnover of Atos-SIS is estimated between 9 and 10 billion euros and cost between 7% to 8%.

To a great year 2011

The boss said he also "confident for 2011" and anticipates for the next fiscal year "a slight organic growth and an operating margin between 7.2% and 7.7%.

Atos Origin has decided to propose at the next general meeting the payment of a dividend of 50 cents under the year 2010.

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Will it or not a meeting of the Congress of Versailles before the summer, for in the Constitution the "golden rule" of balancing public finances? The President of the Republic, supported this reform inspired by German institutions, wants to go fast.

On Monday, a minister even believed that Parliament would be convened at Versailles "by this summer." "The Elysee has asked the government to work in the preparation of a Congress by this summer. The date could be decided this weekend, after arbitration meetings, "said Patrick Ollier on Monday, Minister for Relations with Parliament. He said that "it is the nature of Nicolas Sarkozy to face the obstacle." Referring to the fact that approval of this text does not come naturally.But this Monday evening, the entourage of the Head of State did not confirm this hypothesis.

"Political"

The executive would like to pass this constitutional amendment before the Senate elections in September, when the left hoped to take the majority. But he must first obtain a vote in accordance of Assembly and Senate and three-fifths vote in Congress. Now the Socialists have already said they oppose the idea of incorporating into the Constitution the fight against the budget deficit.

This hostility makes it difficult to obtain a three-fifths majority vote of Parliament, required to Versailles high risk personal loans.In the previous constitutional review in July 2008, the text had been approved by two votes.

"The need to reduce deficits is primarily a matter of political will," said former minister Michel Sapin, the Socialist Party national secretary for economics to justify the group's opposition to the socialist constitutional reform.

The centrists, who have always waved the banner of the fight against deficits, are a priori in favor of such reform. "The direction is good, but it is as much a matter of political will that Constitution," said Jean Arthuis, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which wants the program law provided by the multi-year deals with three years rather than five years.

Assuming that the reform is not adopted, Sarkozy would find it easy to carry responsibility for the Socialists, a few months before the presidential election, the failure of a reform designed to fight against deficits.

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"All long-term unemployed should be received within three months to receive either skills training or employment." In passing this sentence Thursday night at the show "French Song" on TF1, Nicolas Sarkozy launched a new battle against unemployment, while there were in France, 31 December, between 2.72 and 4.05 million unemployed by their category. Be between 80,100 and 202,500 from a year earlier.

At the employment center, the message was heard. An ambitious plan is implemented. "We're working on for several weeks with the team of Xavier Bertrand (Labour Minister, Ed)," said Le Parisien's entourage Christian Charpy, the CEO of employment center. The newspaper said 680,000 people registered for over a year unemployed in category A will be called for interview "physical" from the month of March.The agents try to determine what monitoring will be most suitable for each person. For now, however, the long-term unemployed registered in the other classes (B, C, D. ..) are not affected by this initiative. "Most are already in training or employment," says employment center.

The year 2010 has been an annus horribilis for the job. And December data, published recently, will not grow much for optimism. With increases in the number of jobseekers registered 27,100 in Class A and 32,600 in ABC (including the unemployed who worked more or less than 78 hours in the month), December has been one of the worst months of the 2010 paperless payday loans.As the number of long-term unemployed, he continued his surge: + 18.1% in twelve months for the unemployed for over three years and 38.5% for those with two years of unemployment.

The resurgence of subsidized contracts

It is within this context that the morose president said Thursday that the government would generate an additional EUR 500 million in the budget for the job to fight against the long-term unemployment and promote early learning. "We will mobilize all our forces" for the job, said the head of state. "Growth has returned, the signs are encouraging, it will work."

In addition to strengthening the support for employment center, the government decided to reopen the valves assisted contracts.Xavier Bertrand has said in an interview with Le Figaro on Friday funding 50,000 new subsidized contracts, while 390,000 already budgeted for 2011. "We will also ask departments to finance contracts with the State 60,000 more flights to the beneficiaries of the RSA," said Minister of Labour. "This fits perfectly with our desire to promote the value of work. Better to pay a salary as an allowance. "

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