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This would be the second single strike at the SNCF since the election of François Hollande. The four organizations representing the public company (CGT, UNSA, SOUTH CFDT) on Friday filed a request for an immediate consultation. A mandatory procedure before filing a notice of strike. However, Les Echos reported that Saturday1, "at the beginning, they had already announced in a joint leaflet an" action all services unit in June 2013. " Which suggests that the strike will be held Thursday, June 13, 2013.

The unions want to denounce the railway reform and problems purchasing power rail can be read on the website of France Info2. The movement would be followed as the previous, say unions, who find that "the malaise goes."

Society and the state are in full reflection to improve the operational efficiency of the French railway system and eliminate its debt. Two reports on the subject were made in April 3: they both offer a return of all the orders of the State SNCF4 cash advance. A bill will be introduced in a few months.

Meanwhile, in March, the company announced that the railway will make between 1.5 and 2 billion in savings over the next five years. Which in addition to a plan to reduce costs of purchasing, IT spending … 700 million by 2015 already announced a few months ago.

An uncertain 2013 for SNCF

For the year 2012, the SNCF has posted "satisfactory" results in his boss Guillaume Pepy, who has renewed his mandat5 at the head of the company railways for five years. In 2012, the turnover of the Group increased by 3% compared with 2011 to € 33.8 billion. Better, its net profit tripled to EUR 383 million. And debt decreased by EUR 1 billion to 7.3 billion.

Nevertheless, the year 2013 will be difficult with large work Ile-de-France that will disrupt the quality of service, the economy still fragile and budget authorities, including those allocated to transport, which still suffer the crisis of public finances in France and Europe.

While the Franco-German couple is going through a serious crisis, exacerbated by the release of a document on PS1 vitriolic Angela Merkel2 François Hollande 3a tense Thursday, a pole to the latter: it offers the Chancellor an "initiative Europe "at four points, which includes, for the first time, a chapter on political union, so dear to Berlin.

"The Germany4 is ready for political union, well, France5 is ready to give content to this political union and she gave two years to get there," said the Head of State. "We are not afraid of the political union," he assured. "But we want content that shows Europe6 can bring benefits to citizens."

This is the first time that Francois Hollande says the following about the political union. Angela Merkel who has been waiting almost a year its response to German proposals can only welcome this step. "In Europe, Angela Merkel is ready to compromise. (…) We will reach an agreement before the German elections, "says the French president. "We must get Europe out of its languor," he insisted. "If Europe does not advance, it falls, it is erased from the map of the world, the imagination of the people," he added.

On the bottom of the political union, however, a difficult discussion. "Europe is not only the reduction of deficits," warned Francois Hollande, without renouncing its promises of "serious budget." His four-point plan presented at the press conference 7inclut two subjects that annoy the Germans: "The common fiscal capacity" and "common bond." Dear Francois Hollande, the two themes are synonymous, the Rhine, unacceptable financial transfers without a real "fiscal union" that would put state finances in the euro area – and their reform agenda – Trust Brussels, thus indirectly Berlin cash till payday.

This is where the shoe pinches. Other points of the plan are more consensual Holland with Germany. Strengthening the governance of the euro area, with "monthly meetings around a President" is accepted by Germany, it is clear that the independence of the European Central Bank is not threatened and if it can contribute to building a better economic policies, so structural reforms. These meetings would be conducted at the level of ministers in charge of economic portfolio (Finance, Labour, Social Affairs, etc..).

a "New Deal" for employment in Europe

In its offensive in four points, the French president also called for a rapid release of funds from the EU budget for the unemployed youth. Some € 6 billion was budgeted for the EU over seven years. It proposes to accelerate the payment under a "New Deal" for use in Europe, negotiations between Paris and Berlin.8 fourth point: the revival of "European Energy Community" on expensive in Paris and Berlin. This is an ambitious project at half years, as large states, including France and Germany, have consistently refused to cede sovereignty on this strategic issue. For François Hollande, who had raised the issue last September at the conference environment, we must "define a strategy together, help each other on the energy transition, and make an effort to promote renewable energy." A subject on which Angela Merkel agrees, especially if it is done on European funds …. On the issue of renewable energy, however, Germany has a length ahead of France: 25% of its electricity production is based, against 12% in France, which is dominated by nuclear energy.

Cyprus and its donors have pulled in the night an agreement to avert immediate bankruptcy of the island, with EU support. But this rescue, acquired after fourteen hours of tense exchanges, results in the closure of Laiki the second bank, and a net loss estimated at between 30 and 40% for the largest depositors of the first institution, Cyprus Bank.

On paper, the Cypriots will escape the tax from 6.75 to 9.9% Eurogroup had promised them ten days ago on all bank accounts. In fact, the agreement submitted in the night to the final approval of the Eurogroup may cost much more to larger depositors, individuals, companies and non-residents, including Russians. Laiki will be immediately liquidated and they risk losing everything that exceeds 100,000 euros guaranteed by EU legislation.  

Cyprus Bank will be degreased and sharply reduced its balance sheet, with a proportional discount on deposits in excess of the limit of coverage. In both cases, these management measures that do not require approval of the parliament in Nicosia, unlike the tax originally envisaged. The two banks together represent about 80% of the island's financial system.

The outcome of the standoff, hired a week ago, however, allows both sides to claim a success. Nicos Anastasiades, newly elected President of Cyprus, avoid bankruptcy and can claim he has withdrawn his country to a tax spectacularly rejected by parliament in Nicosia. Europe, meanwhile, managed to keep the common currency in Cyprus and deny himself starve, as envisioned by the ECB.

"The best agreement can be reached," according to Lagarde

Christine Lagarde, Director General of the International Monetary Fund, described the agreement "as the best that can be achieved from facing challenges more complicated." The Eurogroup has given the green light for financial assistance. But its president, Dutchman Jeroen Dijssebloem said during a press conference concluding a meeting of the Eurogroup that the amount of aid donors (European Union and International Monetary Fund) is unchanged and 's' amount to 10 billion euros. "

The outcome was precipitated by an emergency appointment seventeen finance ministers in Brussels on Sunday evening. Sign of initial tensions, the meeting began in the middle of the night, with more than six hours late. In fact, this is a camera prior to reduced staff, with Anastasiades President, Herman Van Rompuy, José Manuel Barroso, Christine Lagarde (IMF) and Mario Draghi (ECB) has the breakthrough.

In the last hours, the leaders of Nicosia had ended up, after a long denial of the danger. "The goal is to save the Cypriot economy and avoid a debt default uncontrollable effects," acknowledged Cypriot President upon his arrival Brussels. The price of a rough exchange the Executive Director of the IMF, the President got the Cyprus Bank is not liquidated as Laiki, but kept alive and restructured. To achieve this, Nicos Anastasiades was up to his resignation in the balance. Once the compromise torn in small groups, the seventeen ministers of the Eurogroup have countersigned and set the details. "The immediate future looks difficult for Cypriots," warned Olli Rehn, "Mr. Euro "of the European Commission.

Remains a bitter pill to impose a government just installed a Parliament had rejected outright the first draft of the plan and Cypriots who has long believed in a miracle cure. The EU and IMF have not hidden that night that "restructuring" Banking is the hottest step sanitation of the island. Should follow as Greece, Portugal and Spain, fiscal consolidation and restoration of external accounts, with effect as a brake on the same activity.

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After a bad year in 2011, the number of accidents has decreased in 2012. And this trend continues in 2013, according to the assessments of road safety, with less than 9% of fatalities and 12% of injuries in January.

These figures hope left lower auto insurance rates this year, but it is not. The price index for private insurance, published by the comparator Assurland shows a 2.1% increase in the cost of insurance over the last twelve months. Yet the comparison provided in December 2013 contained up only 1%, driven by competition. He noted then increases by 0.9% in 2012 to Maaf, 1.5% for Axa, 2% Maif and Macdf, Generali 3% and 4% for Swiss Life.

Insurers defend themselves

The number of accidents is not the only factor to play on the evolution of premiums, insurers argue. They evoke the rising cost of repairs made more complex by the invasion of electronics in cars. Victim compensation costs also more expensive insurance: accidents are fewer, but more serious, and therefore the duration of care is growing. Axa, there was an increase in 2012 the average cost of accidents by 2% damage and 5% for bodily injury, a trend already observed in 2011.

Some legal systems also weigh in the balance. Insurers must finance since January 1, 2013 revaluation of pensions paid to victims of road accidents, although it is far from the Guarantee Fund compulsory insurance of damage (FGAO) who took care. Accordingly, Axa evoked a possible late 2012 premium increases from 1.2 to 1.3%. Another measure that could weigh: the equalization of rates between men and women, decided by Court of Justice of the European Union last December. It could lead in 2013 to a leveling up of premium automobiles women.

Another possible explanation although they deny it, with the car insurance offset what they lose elsewhere. The insurance sector in 2012 recorded a turnover down 4%. Life insurance in particular has suffered with withdrawals over the payments of 3.4 billion euros. As auto insurance is mandatory, insurers may be tempted to improve their margins on this side.

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VSEs and SMEs can now request a cash advance on tax credit for competitiveness and employment (CICE), announced on Tuesday the Minister of Economy, Pierre Moscovici, and Minister for the Budget Jerome Cahuzac . The smallest firms, so the most fragile in the current context, will benefit now that key measure of competitiveness pact, which aims to alleviate the burdens on businesses. They will not have to wait until 2014 to receive a check from the government. The amount that the company can receive will depend on its payroll in 2012. "Small businesses may request pre-financing directly from OSEO, future pole Bank financing public investment (BPI), by ceding the CICE debt they have on the state," says Bercy.

Moreover, OSEO is "immediately establish a guarantee fund" which will allow commercial banks also offer pre-financing of SMEs CICE, "BPI covering up to 50% of the risk involved in these operations," says Ministry of Finance. Commercial banks can offer pre-financing companies "to the beginning of the second quarter."

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"MY FIGARO DIGITAL Very small firms are the new poor

From our correspondent in Washington

Maurice Taylor is well known United States. But only in the world of tire. His outspokenness that shocks the French syndicalists today, is however in the standard of an industrial world of Midwest where the bosses who have made themselves all alone are not afraid to call a cat a cat.

Native of Michigan, aged of 68 years, "Morry» Taylor is respected for his exemplary career. After be past by Michigan Tech, a University of Houghton (Michigan), he is first illustrated for years as seller of wheels. "I followed 257 engineering courses. None me has never served to nothing, "confessed-he in 1996. His stroke of genius goes back to his redemption in 1983 for 6 million dollars of a factory wheels Quincy (Illinois) Undercutting by Firestone. "Some do will see that waste where others will see of gold … When I saw this factory, I understood that it was an opportunity in pure gold of 24 carats ». From this investment, in association with Canadian industrialist Joseph Tanenbaum, Maurice Taylor has mounted an empire, redeeming over the years and worldwide, factories and activities that large groups as Goodyear abandoned.

Renamed Titan International, the group was introduced into scholarship in 1993. He today employs 3,600 people and its turnover approach 2 billion dollars. Maurice Taylor loves say that his style aggressive in respect of Wall Street analysts has earned him the nickname of "Grizzly». But outside of the universe complex and competitive of the tire for agricultural machines and construction vehicles, "Morry» Taylor, is not a star. His remuneration, bonus understood, is modest. It does not exceed 3 million dollars.  

There long as one has forgotten his candidature botched for the Republican nomination in 1996. By spending 6.5 million dollars of his personal fortune, he did receuilli just 1% of voice cons Bob Dole, the candidate of the establishment.

Without complex

The active participation of Maurice Taylor to political debate has decreased in recent years. Its blog has no been updated since October 2010. This is also at this time that was the last whole page he is offered in the daily USA Today for denounce what he judge be "incompetence" of Barack Obama and democrats. His crusade cons the growing role of the State conforms to the republican rhetoric liberal. "Who wants leave at Government 40% of the money that you will earn in outgoing of the school?», Launched-he to a group of high school students in 1996. When a young "at look weird" has lifted hand, Maurice Taylor has replicated from tac at tac: "Note the name of that one. It must be put in a institution and study its brain. He is not human. It is a extra-terrestrial ».

Maurice Taylor is not more diplomat with the U.S. government than it is with Bercy. "Who still believes what recount the politicians? It does mean anything. There has many egos to Washington.

We would be better if we closed it all, "he explained at the beginning of months in a magazine professionals of the tire. He spends weeks visiting tire factories in difficulty on all continents. Sometimes it in redeems a. It negotiates at this moment a taking participation majority in a society of wheels in India, Wheels India Ltd. which account develop its exports to America and Europe. It is far from 2008, epoch where he appellait in its advertisements on television to buy its tires "Made in America». We the see saying: "Put a tire Michelin on a tractor American, is like putting a beret on the head of a cowboy. Put a tire Japanese Firestone on a tractor American, is like making wear a kimono to farmer ".

The "grizzly» do not regret these About. "This is the truth at the time Michelin sold his agricultural tires to loss to United States. In our factories in India, one wants produce for the market local. This is what we do in Brazil also. It is necessary that consumers buy tires facts home ", we explains Maurice Taylor, without complex.

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Argentina deserves it sit at the table of the G20? Clearly not meet the Association of American taxpayers (NTU), a powerful lobby near the Republicans, who feels that Cristina Kirchner should give way to Switzerland or Norway. "Argentina …

This may be the awareness it takes to François Hollande … According to a study conducted Cecop-CSA for the Circle of investors, two in three French say they are worried about their retirement. Up ten points since 2011. But above attitudes have evolved. While 30% of French people considered "necessary" three years ago to back up to 65 years term the statutory retirement age, 60% are now convinced. A small majority left (52%) is even favorable – that is to say there changes had on the subject. In addition, two-thirds of employees over 50 years in favor of this reform. "As the need is proposed to ten years, many people think to escape," qualify the authors of the study.

The decline in age is in any case far – with another pension calculation on the entire career (and not on the twenty-five best years in the private or the last six months in the public service) – considered as the most "acceptable" by a majority. Please pass it more than 43 years of contributions (41.5 today) to qualify for a full pension and taking into account life expectancy (which disadvantage women) in calculations. Are spread a further increase contributions and especially lower pensions easy to get unsecured personal loans.

"Everything is open"

Pension reform is one of the challenges of 2013, the need for funding has been estimated in December 2020 to 25 billion. An ad hoc committee, a dozen wise, will be installed in the second half of February to make recommendations before the end of June His work as a basis for dialogue that the government will launch at the conference Social July.

"Everything is open, it says at Matignon. There will be a parametric reform to balance diets and pose perhaps the foundation for systemic reform forward. "Najat Belkacem-Vallaud, the government spokesman who had certified a week ago that the transition to a regime by points suffice, may therefore be disallowed. "She spoke a little too quickly," says a close friend of Prime Minister convinced that indexation of pensions, which reflects Jerome Cahuzac, the budget minister, will not either.

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Belvedere shareholders will vote February 12 on the future of the group in trouble. Bruce Willis announced he will vote in favor of the plan negotiated by the administrator Frederic Abitbol. The star, which, since 2009, promoting …

The continuing decline of the yen begins to stir. The Japanese currency, which hovered around 90 yen to the dollar fell to 90.21 yen Friday, its lowest level in two and a half years. Since the arrival of Shinzo Abe as prime minister last month, the yen has lost 4.5% of its value against the greenback. The decline is equally spectacular against the euro.