International Headlines and Stories

The Greek government will appeal to the people. Prime Minister George Papandreou said in Parliament on Sunday "in the fall, we will go to a referendum on the main reforms in this country." The Socialist attempts to obtain the agreement of members on the composition of his new government and its austerity plan over five years of 28 billion euros needed for a new international aid.

These reforms are challenged in the street and into the ranks of the narrow government majority (155 seats out of 300). This is to appease the critics that Papandreou had to reshuffle his team Friday, so it presents to Parliament on Sunday. "I applied for a renewal of confidence in the government because the country is at a crucial point," he said.We need to find "a national agreement to deal with deficits and debt are a Greek national problem," he added. The vote of confidence will take place Tuesday night.

The Prime Minister is attempting to rally right-wing opposition to his austerity plan. The latter, who had hidden some of the deficits of the country before the crisis in 2009, refuses to give carte blanche. Its leader, Antonis Samaras, reiterated that his party "did not give a vote of confidence in the government as socialist Papandreou insists on a policy that does not solve problems but makes them worse."

Division concerned

European leaders are concerned about this division. Merkel supported George Papandreou Friday: "He is fighting for Greece meets its commitments, we support it.(…) It is hoped that the opposition supports the Greek government. "

Finance ministers of the euro zone meet in Eurogroup on Sunday night and Monday special meeting. They must agree on the payment of the new tranche of aid provided under the 110 billion euros of loans in spring 2010 in Greece. A budget that would allow the country to spend the summer. In addition, Europeans must also agree on a new aid plan, the sum is not yet defined. The negotiations come up against particularly on the modalities of participation of banks in the effort.

Do not expect an agreement by Monday morning, however, said the rpésident of the Eurogroup, the Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker. The European Commission had yet spoken this week of an agreement expected by Sunday evening.French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had said Friday on their side need to "act quickly" on the Greek case. "We'll talk tonight about the involvement of private creditors, the question is how far it can and must go," said Jean-Claude Juncker.

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And if you asked more questions in the right place? "Suggests now a television commercial for Old National Insurance (CNAV) to the humorous. A few days before the commencement of the pension reform (July 1, read PreviousPage), the government explained to the French that they have several partners that would respond to questions they are sure to arise on their future retirement. Consultants by telephone (39 60), websites (pedagogical and practical), retirement calculator (m @ rel), statement of career situation, sources of information about retirement have increased in recent years.They are also more and more personalized.

Thus, the public interest group (GIP) Info Retreat, which coordinates 35 mandatory pension systems, address every five years from the age of 35, a statement of "personal circumstances" (those born in 1951 , 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971 and 1976 will receive their statement this year). This lists all schemes where the insured has acquired rights, with the corresponding periods, the compensation taken into account in calculating the pension, life insurance or the number of points acquired, periods or events that may influence the retirement age or the amount of pension (military service …). A document is purely informative.

From 55 years, is changing

Policyholders receive more than the statement a "rough estimate global" (in the basic and supplementary schemes), and the age of entitlement.Very useful, this document lets you know exactly the number of quarters acquired and especially to get a clear idea of ​​the amount of support we receive, if it pushes his retirement. "Generally, these reviews are thorough and well done. They have quite a few mistakes, "said Pascal Mignery, president of France Retreat. Mistakes are sometimes the result of the corporate employer, which did not submit all information collected at the time the computer did not exist short term personal loans. "But beware, these records do not mention the increase in pension for family of three children and periods of expatriation," he says.

In addition to these two devices, the law on pension reform introduced a progress retirement at age 45 (it enters into force in January 2012)."Each insured may request a personal interview on the rights he has made in mandatory pension systems," says CNAV. This will enable some awareness of the need to save for retirement yet distant. "It will also be very useful for expatriates who do not always know they can contribute to the French funds while overseas, in advance Pascale Gauthier Novelvy.

Also from next year, the younger will also be sensitized to the problems of retirement. After two quarters of work (validated), they will receive a newsletter on pension division.

If you want to know the exact amount of your retirement, you can use the calculator m @ rel (www.marel.fr).This will also allow you to know at what age you can claim a full pension and to know the financial consequences of an early departure. Small flat, you must enter yourself all your information. Moreover, this simulator does not yet take into account the terms of the pension reform.

Those who had a career more complex, punctuated with many changes (employer or status, for example) will knock on the door of a boutique firm that will help them see more clearly (at what age from, what are the benefits of combining employment and retirement …). "We help employees not err in departing three months too early for example. We are also much sought in their forties who are considering changing their professional status and wish to understand the implications this will have on their future retirement, "says Pascal Mignery.The price of such a service? Between 1000 and 5000 euros on average, according to the firms.

It's a heavyweight who joined the circuit on Tuesday from the Banque Populaire Group in sailing. Loick Peyron (5 league titles on the circuit Orma, winner of the 2nd edition of the Barcelona World Race with Jean-Pierre Dyck, twice winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre) became the new skipper Maxi Banque Populaire V. In Focus a single objective: toppling the Jules Verne Trophy record held since March 2010 by Franck Cammas on Groupama (48 days 7 hours and 344 minutes). A world tour tried – and failed – by the Banque Populaire Group in early 2011, with its iconic skipper Pascal Bidégorry.

"Loïck Peyron is someone who has an aura in sport," said Olivier Klein, CEO of commercial banking and insurance BPCE. The arrival condition of the sailor of 52 years are clear."He joins us for the period 2011-2012 in particular for the record attempt the Jules Verne Trophy," he says. Our goal was to find someone whose legitimacy was denied on the circuit and whose track record enabled him to succeed this season. We have an appetite for victories and high standards, "he adds. The Jules Verne Trophy is also a family affair for the Peyron. Bruno Peyron in a three-time holder with two ships, Commodore Explorer, and especially Orange 2.

Tight schedule

The timing of Loïck Peyron and his crew are more than busy, with a break-in period that may be very minimal entry into the heart of the matter will soon June 17, SNSM with the trophy (won by Loïck Peyron in 2008), followed by 13 to 15 August it will be time for the Fastnet, before positioning itself for a new record attempt the Jules Verne Trophy this winter.

Present in sailing for 22 years, Banque Populaire bet on the "giants of the seas." The group was one of the pillars of the circuit Orma, and has developed no less than 5 multihull ocean. In 2006, the bank of the sail is the choice of major records. "We found an alternative to these big races, but with the demise of this circuit, we had to get into the big record," says Chantal Petrachi, communications director of Banque Populaire. That's when we started the construction of the maxi-trimaran 40 meters. Cost of operation: 11 million euros.

With the arrival of Loïck Peyron, the Banque Populaire loop device sail for its 2012 edition, year of the next Vendée Globe. The Team has established race team, led by Ronan Lucas and no fewer than three major projects.Besides the Jules Verne Trophy, the bank is engaged in the Imoca circuit. In April, former skipper of Brit'Air, Armel Le Cléac'h, joined the team to retrieve the bar of the old monohull Foncia, bought late 2010 and refurbished by the bank in anticipation of the next Jacques Vabre and the Vendée Globe. Jeanne Gregory, the group is also engaged in the Figaro circuit.

"Three in four French people know Banque Populaire bank as sailing. We therefore had to have a comprehensive approach on the sector, for example, from clubs and sailing schools. The veil is a very high surface exposure for a brand because we give our name to a boat or a team, "says Olivier Klein.The Banque Populaire Group is also a partner of the French Sailing Federation for 11 years, it maintains the history of the Pen Duick alongside Eric Tabarly association and supports teams of France's Olympic sailing next pure OJ London.

A revolution! For the first time, trade unions and employers are required this year to prepare and publish consolidated accounts but also to be certified, if their income exceeds 230,000 euros. The MEDEF has outstripped the obligation, which certify its accounts since 2007, and the UIMM (metal) also holds itself to the year since the scandal of cash withdrawals that hit her.

Side unions, the CFDT is the first to meet that obligation, after the 2008 law on union representativeness. Confederation (the parent) and its 16 satellites are to publish their consolidated accounts for 2010, while his federation will do so before the end of the year.By law, the regional unions and department have postponed for a year and large enterprise unions (La Poste, SNCF …) two years.

According to these consolidated financial statements approved by the National Council and certified without qualification by its auditors, the resources of the confederation headed by Francois Chereque are for three quarters, "internal" membership fees, rents paid by unions from premises belonging to the "conf" financial products … Revenues "external" (public subsidies, 25 permanent paid by their company or home administration of a total of 262 …) represent the remaining 24%.

CFDT confederation, if it were a business, could be described as largely unproductive, as its net profit reached 3.4 million – although down 34% year on year. This "benefit" is fully distributed.Much is destined to the national industrial action (CNAs) – the credit union's anti-strike which is used to compensate the militants and to provide legal support – including reserve amounts to 137 million. This year, 550,000 euros have been set aside to fund the convention of 2014 and 350,000 for the campaign (especially industrial tribunal) to come.

"A subject opaque"

This transparency is not enough new to the group New Center of the Assembly, which has asked a commission of inquiry into the financing of trade unions. "I feel that the unions want to hide things," says Nicolas Perruchot, deputy of Loir-et-Cher.There is little evidence available to us and it is time to shed light on this mat. "

For him, it would be for an organization that benefits from public funds – or militant training grants management of social organizations – accountable. "We know how Nicolas Sarkozy wins or not, but Bernard Arnault Bernard Thibault and Francois Chereque, insists this white knight of the Finance Committee. It is not known how many permanent, by whom they are paid or how the detachments. The member cites the figure of 600 employees seconded to the station."Is it still corresponds to a need for the company when it is struggling to finance infrastructure?" Asks the member hoping to complete its investigation in spring 2012.

Nicolas Perruchot answers on video:

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The health alert was launched Thursday by the European authorities. Three cucumbers from Spain, and perhaps also from the Netherlands, are the cause of the contamination of 276 persons to the enterohaemorrhagic E.coli (EHEC) in Germany. Two have died after contracting hemolytic uremic syndrome, which manifests itself especially by bloody diarrhea.

Across Europe, national health authorities are looking into whether contaminated cucumbers are on their soil. Result of this tracking, Friday morning, Denmark indicated that the lots were problematic in two wholesalers. These have been withdrawn from sale. The Danish health agency recommended that consumers not eat raw cucumbers from Spain or tomatoes and salad from northern Germany.

"In the midst of proceedings"

In France, the hunt is underway."To our knowledge, there is no contaminated lots in France," said a spokesman Interfel, the professional association for fruit and vegetables. Thanks to the labeling requirement, it is possible to reconstruct the path of the affected vegetables from producer to distributor, even when a lot was broken by a wholesaler. "We are proceeding rapidly," nuance does one side of the DGCCRF (Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and Fraud Control).

The tracing stops when the product was sold, investigators can not trace back to the consumer's fridge. Germany is a major consumer of cucurbits in Spain. She is also the first client, with 80,569 tonnes imported in the first three months of the year, according to figures from the inter Spanish fruit and vegetables.France has for its part consumed 13,294 tons of cucumbers in Spain over the same period.

Health authorities are uploaded to the producers of cucumbers, organic gardening regions of Almeria and Malaga. Investigations have been launched in Germany to determine if other cucurbits infected come from other regions. In Spain, "the Andalusian authorities are currently investigating to find out where the contamination and when it occurred," said a spokesman for the Spanish Food Safety Agency (EASA).

"We do not know where is the contamination occurred and the European Commission highlighted the fact that it occurred outside the country of origin" of cucumbers, said Friday the Spanish Minister of Agriculture Rosa Aguilar.So far there is no evidence and there is no evidence that this could happen in the country of origin. "

Washing vegetables

The Spaniards are wondering, according to a European source, if the cucumbers were not contaminated by falling on the ground at Hamburg. "Usually, vegetables are not high-risk products, but may be soiled or in contact with the ground during transport," says one to the DGCCRF. Wash and peel vegetables would reduce by almost 90% less chance of contamination.

Over the years, the credit card has become the preferred means of payment by the French, far ahead of the check. Very practical, its use costs, however, rather expensive, according to a study of the UFC-Que Choisir on Tuesday. This points to the "opacity of costs" charged by banks. Beginning with the annual fee, which averages to 47.80 euros. The most common international standard card with immediate debit (72.3% of users), is itself, charged EUR 36.30 per year on average. "Now, 15.30 euro had" no economic justification Identified, "says UFC-Que Choisir.

Adjust their shopping with a credit card can also be very expensive, if payment incident.Especially since, in most cases (64% of purchases), the payment terminal of the merchant does not verify the consumer's account is sufficiently powered.

Result, the consumer too much cricket will be charged fees, commissions called for intervention (8.50 euros on average per transaction). Customers without overdraft (23% in 2010 according to the documentary credit) would pay annually 2.7 billion euros in fresh incidents due to their credit card, including 1.8 billion euros for the only commissions intervention whereas the processing cost of these operations is evaluated by the CFU to 172 million. "This represents 83% margins for banks," Alain Bazot advance, the president of the Association, which campaigns for the abolition of these commissions.It will soon present to the Ministry of Economy of proposals to achieve a "credit card responsibly."

Strong reaction from banks

Just like what happens to our neighbors, she also advocates changing to a system that would systematically check whether the client can pay his purchase. It also proposes to set up a "modular card," because "banks are distributing cards are oversized in relation to the real needs of customers."

Banks have reacted strongly Tuesday. French Banking Federation (FBF) has reiterated that the "system of bank cards offer a service from a very high quality appreciated by customers."In addition, "certain proposals of the UFC-Que Choisir go against the freedom of customer choice and lead to an overall decline in the level of service, as the desire to impose a system to permit systematic" concludes the FBF.

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Not yet a candidate, Christine Lagarde was already the favorite to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn to IMF management, but two rivals have already expressed. Mexico will formally nominate Agustin Carstens, Governor of the Mexican central bank, said Sunday the Minister of Finance of Mexico. He "has the capabilities and qualifications to lead an institution of the importance of the International Monetary Fund," he said. Governor of the Bank of Mexico since January 2010, Agustin Carstens has been deputy director general of the IMF from 2003 to 2006.

Moreover, the Belgian Finance Minister, in office since 1999, Didier Reynders, said Sunday also be "of course" interested in the job. "These are functions that do not refuse," he added. But Europeans seem more a united front around the candidacy of the French Minister of Finance.This weekend, his candidacy has received the support of Germany and the United Kingdom. The Congo would also like to see take the job.

In France, Martine Aubry said yesterday that the appointment of Christine Lagarde at the head of the IMF "would be a very good thing for our country and for Europe." However, Francois Bayrou is against, saying "do not approve economic policy which was followed by France" and lamenting that "Ms. Lagarde was the main actor of the case Tapie.

In a joint statement, Australia and South Africa have called Sunday a nomination on merit, not nationality.A position shared by the representative of Switzerland to the IMF.

After the resignation of IMF Managing Director, accused of attempted rape by the American courts, nominations for his successor will be officially opened on Monday, and until June 10

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With the advent of smart phones, the Internet began to transform into mobinaute. The shoppers follow the same path, after an initial study on m-commerce ", conducted among more than 3,000 Internet users and sixty e-retailers. While more than one in two French has already made a purchase online (52.1%), according to the Federation e-commerce and distance selling (Fevad), only 12% of them were from their mobile, or 3 million people in total.

"The profile of m-buyer of 2011 resembles the profile of online shoppers in 2001: he is younger and more male shoppers than the average", describes Gilles White, research director at TLC Benchmark. As with the first purchases on the Internet, purchases by mobile applications currently focus on simple products, low and controlled amounts of known sites.Cultural products (DVDs, books, video games, etc..) And travel (train tickets, rentals, hotels …) are the most purchased by mobile phone. The garment sector rises on the third step of the podium by mobile sales, while it took until 2005 that the industry is growing really on the Internet. "The event model based on private sales of consumer responsiveness explains this very good performance. The e-mailings and alerts on mobile now read more than promote Internet impulse buying, "says research director of CCM Benchmark.

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphic.

Some heavy

Vente-privee.com is a striking example. Launched in June 2010, the mobile application for iPhone and iPad drains already 7% of group turnover. The launch of the Android version this week should further stimulate sales my credit score."This channel is about 0.5% more revenue per month," explains co-founder Xavier Court. He said he is not totally incremental sales: "It is difficult to estimate the share alternative is that this new method of shopping," he adds.

Gilles Blanc emphasizes the heterogeneity of performance: "For some leading sites of e-commerce, m-commerce weighs only 1% of their turnover." This is the case of La Redoute: this channel, available for a year, represents 1% of sales, while the group attracted about one in six internet. "A few sites already carry nearly 10% of their sales through this new channel," says study author. The average is more around 1% of the market for e-commerce, which was 8.8 billion in the first quarter 2011 (+20% in one year) according Fevad.Among the good performers are SNCF, the first online travel agency (546 000 visitors per day), and Accor, which has sold 100,000 room nights through this channel last year and the group plans to multiply this number by 2.6 this year.

While the first application was launched three years ago in France by Amazon – second most visited Internet site, after eBay – 2011 should be the year of launch. An e-retailer in four offers a mobile version. For many players, this is a site that should be completed this year to be ready before the planned deployment of 4G next year.

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Photo credits: TF1-CHEVALIN/SIPA/TF1

The Governing Council of the European Central Bank moves Thursday in Helsinki, according to a well-established ritual of holding its twice yearly conclave off the walls. A deliberate manner to meet the "true European". If market economists are virtually unanimous in excluding any change in interest rates on Thursday they expect the president of the ECB provides specific guidance, at its monthly press conference on the strategy it intends to .

He speaks of "extreme vigilance" on inflation, "would signal a rate hike in June," Jonathan Loynes believes, the chief economist of Capital Economics. Jean-Claude Trichet had used the term encoded on March 3. The markets had immediately concluded that the ECB would raise the following month's rate remained unchanged at 1% since May 2009.The promise was actually held on April 7, despite the disasters that had struck the meantime Japan.

A new security crackdown in June is not the assumption of the majority of experts. They recall that during the two previous phases of monetary tightening experienced since its inception in January 1999, the ECB waited three months before continuing its march forward. However, there is no doubt that central bankers in Frankfurt will launch a second strike in the summer, probably in July. "If Trichet had expressed its" extreme vigilance "on March 3, he had risen to 2.3% while its inflation projections for 2011. But the consumer price already showing an increase of 2.8% over the last twelve months and now we are heading towards a figure of 3% over the year.The ECB will have no mood to continue the cylce of rising interest rates, analysis Bruno Cavalier, an economist at Oddo Securities.

Besides the issue of interest rates, Jean-Claude Trichet, speaking on behalf of 23 members of the Governing Council will be asked about the pursuit of so-called "unconventional" monetary policy and purchases of securities State set up in pain May 9, 2010. "President Trichet will continue to indicate without any doubt that the program continues. But since there were no purchases during the past four weeks, it is clear that the ECB is increasingly reluctant to maintain such measures in place when it hardens its conventional political " according to Capital Economics.

The ECB president is sure to renew his opposition to any restructuring of the Greek debt, including the ECB holds a substantial share."Of the 75 billion euro government securities bought, more than half of the paper focuses on Greek, whose market price is currently trading at 57% of their face value (of the 10-year bonds), calculates Bruno Cavalier. This shows the potential magnitude of losses to the ECB about these operations, although its purchases have been made at prices already discounted.