Online Press Release Distribution

Air France hunts down unnecessary expenses until the terminals. The company tricolor, who announced the fall of the redesign of its medium-haul commercial offering to reduce its costs, is preparing a reform in its stops. According to our information, it is studying a plan to rationalize that could lead to the disappearance of 81 Air France counters airport in Europe, called internally "ATO" (airport ticket office). These agencies are usually also act as a point of information for customers, and counters where passengers may be reimbursed for their tickets and pay supplements for luggage.

This project involves 81 agencies in the European Union, which must be added those of Switzerland and Norway. France and the Netherlands, a country home of Air France-KLM, are not affected.The group's objective is to merge these counters with those of Alitalia and the American Delta, both partners in the SkyTeam alliance. Contacted by Le Figaro, Air France states that "there is no overall project closure" and that decisions will be taken "stop by stop.

A framework agreement signed with unions preamble recalls that the company "who lives a difficult economic situation, needs and strictly control costs and maintain its financial position in order to remain economically viable." Air France has not notified its unions that could generate savings measure.

Ash cloud

It is part of an overall plan for synergies and savings from European airports named "Station 12".A framework agreement was signed last March 31 between the direction of the company and the European group committee of Air France cash advance. "We also agreed that there will be no layoffs, said Francois Cabrera of the CFDT-Air France, signed the agreement. This is the first time that a European agreement sets the framework for local bargaining with unions. "The agreement and order of preference a" natural attrition of jobs, that is to say departures not replaced, "proposals for part-time work" and "labor mobility in the group." 300 people are now employed in the ATO concerned by the project.

The management of Air France justifies this reduction wing by changing the behavior of passengers, who are resorting increasingly to the Internet."The global development of new technologies profoundly influence the behavior of customers of the airline industry", said the framework agreement. This strategy does not unanimous on the side of unions. "This project is built on a dogma rather than from a study of the coefficient of penetration of the Internet in various countries as well as habits of passengers," lamented one union official.

Management has not yet decided. It has even announced that the episode of ash cloud, which has resulted in flows of passengers at its counters, forced to "postpone the project for now.

ALSO READ:

"The cloud of ash penalizes Air France in April

"Air France relies on Aeroflot to serve Russia

"Air France-KLM cargo activity weighted by its

In the eyes of the European Commission, the digital appears to be a valuable source of growth for Europe really needs at this time of crisis. On 19 May, the Barroso Commission, initiated by Neelie Kroes, Commissioner for digital strategy, will adopt its recommendations and present its program in favor of digital over the next five years. A time which will not be too much to implement this very ambitious agenda. Le Figaro has provided the preparatory document of 37 pages which has been the subject of intense negotiations. In this case, the services of the Commissioner have identified 12 objectives met in six themes.

Develop broadband infrastructure

The first theme is the development of broadband Internet infrastructure. The European Commission is that "by 2013, 100% of European citizens have access to broadband Internet base."But the EU sees farther and wants to develop very high speed, thanks to fiber optics. The document recommends that "by 2020, 50% of European households will be eligible for a subscription to the very high speed (above 100 Mgbs). The broadband Internet access and broadband will also be made through mobile. For this, Europe recommends harmonizing technical standards. More importantly, by 2010, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament must agree on a better sharing of mobile frequencies.

Digital Divide

The other priority for Europe of course is the reduction of the digital divide. " Thus, by "2015 the use of the Internet will rise from 60% to 75%, while the latter will grow 41% to 60% of those most disadvantaged."The Commission still wants to "reduce by half the proportion of people who have never used the Internet. Regarding public services, the objective is that "50% of EU citizens use e-government and half of them return the completed documents."

A single market of digital

But the great ambition of the program is to finally build a single market of digital. With two major axes, e-commerce and telecom tariffs.

The Commission seeks to clarify and frame the rules of e-commerce for the Europeans. So "50% of the population will have access to the online sale of 2015". "Just 20% of Europeans will be sure they can buy online order cross-border" without fear that their consumer rights are violated.Specifically, the Commission will "complete the directive of consumer rights" provisions to harmonize the law of contract, "harmonize tax systems on-line services," "update the Directive on e-commerce" and allow "Conflict Resolution for transactions on line. Moreover, by 2013, recommendations will be made to fight against cybercrime. In the meantime, and in 2010, it is recommended to modernize the legal framework for personal data.

Another major project, the Commission hopes that by 2015, there is more than "a single market for telecom services," which actually means "the price difference between calls from abroad and those from his own country should move towards zero.The Commission is tackling a major project that should please the Europeans who travel within the EU but anger the telecom operators who earn lot of money on calls from abroad or roaming.

Controversy ahead

Neelie Kroes also attacks the content industry. Its services advocate for the establishment of a "directive establishing a collective management of online rights at European level" by 2011, which primarily concerns the music industry. A proposal should be clarified when the Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier, provides a broader context on the same collective management.Similarly they are planning, by 2012, a Green Paper, is to "complete the directive on audiovisual media services" and "why not promote pan-European licensing harmonizing copyright and creating this indeed a reference to European copyright law. In addition, the Commission would "create a new legal framework for digitization and access to creative works by offering (including books) in 2010 a directive on orphan works." All these very sensitive issues will no doubt be the subject of bitter controversies in the future.

To implement this very large program, it must focus on research and development in information technology.Europe would "double the public investment so that they reach 5 billion euros."

ALSO READ:

"Brussels sends mystery shoppers on the Internet

"Digital Library: EU creates a committee of wise

It's official. Opening Sunday morning Cabinet Greek exceptionally broadcast on television, Prime Minister Georges Papandreou confirmed that Athens had reached an agreement with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to trigger financial assistance to countries.

The amount of this aid will be "unprecedented slowdown", he said, without providing figures. The French Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde on Saturday evoked total amount of support within the range suggested by the IMF and the European Commission between "100 and 120 billion euros." She said it was "a plan over three years, the current year, 2011 and 2012.

In return, the agreement provides "great sacrifices" for the Greeks, "necessary" to avoid "bankruptcy" of the country, "said George Papandreou on a solemn tone.The Premier said the new austerity measures against officials and retirees of public and private sector saving.

The French plan completed in one week

French side, Nicolas Sarkozy seems determined to act quickly. The French President, recently returned from his trip to China, held Saturday morning a "working meeting" at the Elysee on the crisis in Greece. As the legislative process to unlock a maximum of 6.3 billion euros – 3.9 billion by 2010 – about 30 billion of the EU and the 15 billion IMF, it should be completed within a week next.

The examination in public at the National Assembly will begin Monday at 18 hours and should be adopted no later than Tuesday morning.The Senate vote in the wake the bill.

Barouin Francis, Budget Minister reiterated that the financial assistance at no cost to French taxpayers, since it is a loan to an interest rate of 5% "with repayment in three years to come" , which requires the Greek government to initiate a tight fiscal policy to clean up its accounts.

Stop the speculation

"The support of Member States of the euro area is to stop speculation and ensure stability in the euro area," Nicolas Sarkozy has insisted Saturday.For several weeks, the markets are panicked by the Greek cases, causing bouts of fever in the Greek long rate, which surpassed 11% this week, and that "the surge has no limits", according to economists.

Less disturbing, but nonetheless indicative of the fears on the markets, the euro fell to the rhythm of Greek concerns on the record. Today around 1.33 dollar, the euro has rebounded a bit from Tuesday it had fallen to 1.31.However, the European currency remains "at healthy levels for the economy of the Old Continent," says Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier, CEO of Saxo Bank.

Strengthening surveillance

Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel intend to take "initiatives in the coming days" for Europe to strengthen monitoring mechanisms within the euro area, expedite its work on the fight against speculation and improving the transparency of products derivatives and make further proposals on the regulation of rating agencies.

For these rating agencies, Banier Michel European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, expressed support on Friday to create such an entity in Europe that would complement three existing credit rating agencies, all U.S., Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch.

Their mission note states, businesses, communities, or financial transactions in order to give investors a comprehensive view of credit risk among market players.

ALSO READ:

> How France and Germany are using the crisis Greek