This is the first statement by a senior European official confirming the existence of such plans.

Speculation about the development and content of such projects are fed from the Greek elections of May 6, but their existence had not previously confirmed e.

"There is one and a half, the risk of domino effect could have existed," said Karel De Gucht Belgian Flemish daily De Standaard. 

"But today there are, both within the European Central Bank and European Commission services working in emergency scenarios where the Gre it can not. "

The Markit / CIPS purchasing managers (PMI) thus fell to 50.5 last month against 51.9 (revised) in March. This figure, the lowest since December, is below the expectations of economists who had expected 51.5.

It remains above the 50 mark that separates growth and contraction, in contrast to similar data in the euro area.

Official statistics released last week showed that the British economy had plunged into recession in first quarter, which could further increase the difficulties of coalition government David Cameron.

EDF and GDF will, from next year, reimburse their customers within 15 days of issuance of the annual bill or the subscriber's request, in case of overpayment exceeding 25 euros, according to a decree of April 18 published in the Official Journal (OJ). "During the contract, when the invoice based on energy consumption reveals an overpayment by the contractor less than 25 euros, the excess is carried forward to the next invoice, unless the consumer requests a refund" states that Order, which comes into force on 1 January 2013. "From this amount, the overpayment is refunded by the supplier," the statement said, adding that "the refund is made within fifteen days from the issuance of the invoice or the customer's request ".

Billing of the two suppliers is based on an estimate of consumption for customers who choose the monthly payment, with an annual bill of regularization based on actual consumption. "It has taken up several times to the plate and the publication of an official report to achieve this decree," said Bruno Lechevin, managing director of energy ombudsman, the daily Le Parisien on Friday which states that during the first quarter, 3.2% of complaints received by the Ombudsman were related to reimbursement of overpayments. "In 2011, EDF had made and pin: the utility reimbursement to amounts of less than 15 euros if the customers were demanding," said the newspaper. EDF now states on its website monthly installments if the client has paid a sum greater than its invoice regularization, the credit balance is refunded "by bank transfer within 15 days."

In May 2011, the supplier had agreed to reimburse "now" and automatically overpayments of all invoices to its customers after termination of their contract (move). The group previously had a policy not to refund overpayments of less than € 15.24 if customers were not doing the requests. Parliament passed a provision in the Law on Organization of the New Electricity Markets (Nome) of 7 December 2010 so that energy suppliers are now required to systematically repay overpayments to consumers.

This is an above analysts' forecasts, who on average expected a profit decline to 2.7 billion euros.

Around 8:10 GMT, action Volkswagen earned 4% to 131.25 euros, while the European sector index gained the automotive 1.6%.

New episode of the clash between remote Nicolas Sarkozy and Anne Lauvergeon. Incumbent President said Tuesday that it had terminated the functions of Anne Lauvergeon at the head of Areva because she was "unable to work in harmony with EDF". "Ms. Lauvergeon, we asked him to leave his post for some reason is very simple, was that she was unable to work in harmony with EDF, "he said on France Inter.  

Asked about its incompatibility with the current CEO of EDF Proglio, considered close to Nicolas Sarkozy, the head of state assured that "with the previous (Gadonneix, ed), it was exactly the same thing ". Ms. Lauvergeon "did everything to remain as head of Areva," she "came to me countless times," he insisted, "if it had been in disagreement with the policy as I was driving to the nuclear, one wonders why she wanted to stay. "

"This is someone I respect, I kept at the head of Areva that I had even known (…) we can not say that he mistreated her," continued the President UMP candidate and confirming that he was offered a post in his government. "See Ms. Lauvergeon now explain how she suffered with me, when she was a president of Areva who wanted to stay, who wished by all means remain president of Areva, all these people who, once that they left their posts, say 'my God as we suffered when + they wanted to stay, it's pretty outrageous, "he – he concluded.

In an interview last week in the weekly L'Express and a book, Ms. Lauvergeon, old Sherpa of François Mitterrand, ousted in 2011 by the Government of the head of champion French nuclear company, denounced the methods of the CEO of EDF Proglio, reveals some of his conversations with Nicolas Sarkozy, accusing the government for consideration until 2010 to sell a nuclear reactor to Libya's Colonel Gaddafi. Again, Nicolas Sarkozy denies.

"I have not consorted with Gaddafi"

"There was never a central issue to sell to Mr. Gaddafi and let me tell you that if there is a head of state who in the world, has not paved with Gaddafi and is responsible for his departure and what happened to him, I think maybe it's me, "Sarkozy said in response to a question from a listener on France Inter. When visiting the controversial Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in Paris in December 2007, the Head of State announced to reporters, after an initial interview with the Libyan leader that France had signed the signature of "tens of billions" of euros of contracts with Libya …… These agreements

…, he cited "collaboration contracts for desalination of seawater with a nuclear reactor for armaments cooperation, different economic contracts ". Lauvergeon accused the government of having planned until 2010 to sell the nuclear reactor. "This is a blatant lie (…) it has never been involved," insisted Tuesday Nicolas Sarkozy, "I remind you that if Benghazi was saved and if Gaddafi is gone, it is because that France intervened. " "There is still a logic. We can obviously angry with me for a whole bunch of things but we can not blame me for the inconsistency. In Libya it is France that led the operation, it is France with the UK, "he said.

"So, between those who say that Gaddafi paid my campaign, the other we wanted to offer a nuclear power plant, do you really think I would have done this if it was all true?" concluded the incumbent president and candidate of the UMP. The information website Mediapart published in March a note suggesting that the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has funded a 50 million euros the 2007 campaign of Nicolas Sarkozy. The President had called the accusations "ridiculous".

When moving to Tripoli in July 2007 Nicolas Sarkozy, France and Libya signed a memorandum of agreement on civil nuclear aim of which was, according to the secretary general of the Elysee Claude Gueant of the time, "to provide to Libya a nuclear reactor that allows the provision of drinking water "in seawater déssalinisant This agreement was widely criticized, especially from France's partners such as Germany, and left in environmentalists who saw a proliferation risk. Some had even suspected this Agreement to be consideration for the release of Bulgarian nurses held in Libya, which the Elysée has always denied.

Years of justice for nothing? Maybe so. More than 12 years after the fact, the General Counsel of the Supreme Court seeking annulment of the sentence in Total Erika shipwreck flag. Moreover, he believes that we should not refer the case on appeal. His analysis? French justice is not responsible for the sinking of a ship flying the Maltese flag outside French territorial waters. The notice of Gossement Arnaud, a lawyer specializing in environmental law.

What do you think the requisitions of the General Counsel?

Master Gossement Arnaud: This is surprising. Both courts and not the least, the First District Court of Paris (TGI) in 2008 and the Court of Appeal of Paris ruled in 2010 in the same direction. They have ruled on the application of French law and compensation for environmental damage. It was a first. Second thing, until 2008, an investigation has led to a removal order. In short, much work has been done around this case. It is therefore a surprise to make possible today a possible departure from precedent. And surprise is shared by all lawyers.

Can you reconstruct his reasoning?

We must above all be cautious. And for good reason, we do not know all of the conclusions of Advocate General, only a few arguments. According to the senior judge of the Supreme Court, there would be an issue of pure law, ie the Court of Appeal would not have applied the correct legal text. She should have, according to the magistrate, apply international law because of the location of the Erika. It was not located in French territorial waters. Then, the Advocate General points to the notion of environmental damage. In 2008 the Paris Court of First Instance is to be used with great clarity to the concept of "damages for injury to the environment." But the judge would question the possibility of convicting a person on grounds of environmental damage. Total for lawyers, this recent concept does not exist in positive law, in the texts of laws. Whether the General Counsel relies on this ground for reconsideration of the ecological damage, I do not know.

One thing is certain, the magistrate did not say that Total was irresponsible, but there is a problem of law. Over the total condemnation of the judge shows the inadequacy of the legal framework that applies to legal activities at sea It is a law vague and complex, composed of a mosaic of texts. Historically, there has been interest in the land. We just forgot that human activities would also develop at sea, whether oil activities or renewable energy production. This is since the 70s, including the trial of Montedison (the Italian company had dumped thousands of tons of toxic waste in a marine trench off Cape Corse, in Italian waters), we took awareness of the fragility of the sea We discover that the sea is not a trash can and must be protected. Erika was a turning point. There was a strong awareness.

Requisitions prosecutors are they followed by the Supreme Court?

This is what is said in general. But this is a complex matter for which miles are possible options. The Supreme Court can completely cancel the decision of the Court of Appeal, as it can do so partially. On the issue of compensation paid by Total at the time of use, the oil group said he would not call into question the compensation paid, but one can imagine the reverse. If unfortunately, the Supreme Court completely cancels the decision of the Court of Appeal, the procedure can start again. It would be a disaster not only for the plaintiffs, but also for the ecology. And for good reason, return on an affair that has lasted for 1999 is a bad signal to polluters. This is a step backwards. This is very disturbing. They may think that it does not matter because any way the court proceedings will take years to achieve. It is a discouraging message for associations and however encouraging for polluters. It should be certainty in the application of sanctions.

The IMF seeks to double its war chest through raising $ 600 billion of new resources to help countries struggling with the fallout from the debt crisis in the euro area.

But most G20 countries have said that before they do inject money into the IMF, the euro area was first put more money to solve the crisis of sovereign debt.

This was done on Friday finance ministers of 17 countries in the euro area in agreeing to carry 500 to 700 billion combined capacity of two rescue fund. 

"It is important to ensure that the IMF has sufficient resources to fulfill its systemic role in the global economy and yesterday's agreement within the Eurogroup (…) is very important in this regard, "he told reporters the Danish Minister of Economy Vestager Margrethe, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.

Finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20 countries must discuss an increase in IMF resources on April 22 in Washington.

"It's time to increase IMF resources. It is in the interest of all countries, the focus is on Europe, but it is very important to recognize that there are also vulnerabilities in other parts of the globe, "added Minister

." I think and hope – and this is to How we work – we will reach an agreement in April, "she said

." We Europeans, we can get to re ; unions spring the Washington sense of accomplishment ", for his part said Jörg Asmussen, Executive Board Member of the European Central Bank

… Five …… major emerging countries, said the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), however, have said they would support an increase if they were accorded a more important within the IMF. 

The euro area has already said it would contribute € 150 billion more resources to the IMF. The Czech Republic will contribute 1.5 billion euros, 5.3 billion of Denmark, Poland and Sweden 6.3 billion to 6.9 billion euros.

"The EU calls on other G20 countries and financially strong IMF members to contribute to this effort," we read in a paper for the Washington meeting.

Widely criticized for its many investments in France, Qatar has decided to postpone until after the elections in France to launch a controversial investment fund of 50 million euros to help commuters, it was elected officials learned of Diversity, confirming a report in figaro.fr.

The National Association of Elected Local Diversity (Aneld), who obtained this commitment after a mission to Qatar where she was received by the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, "hoped that this initiative is not exploited by political parties, "said its president Kamal Hamza, alderman (UMP) in Courneuve (Seine-Saint-Denis). "We want this to happen in the healing and not in controversy," he told AFP while the Qatari initiative has been criticized, including by Marine Le Pen.

"There is a very strong influence of foreign countries wishing development of Muslim fundamentalism and I wonder very strongly the bonds of friendship between Nicolas Sarkozy (French President) and the Emir of Qatar that has been allowed to invest 50 million euros in the French suburbs, "said the president of the National Front. Saturday, a few hundred young activists identity of "Apache Project" showed Place de l'Opera in Paris against "the acquisition of France by Qatar." For its part, the interior minister, Claude Gueant, found the initative as "salutary effort since there is no particular requirement of any kind".  

The emirate's ambassador in Paris, Mohamed Al-Kuwari Jahan, announced in December the fund of 50 million euros to finance economic projects by residents of the suburbs of France, explaining that s 'was not "charity" but of establishing partnerships in projects "serious" and "solid". A commission of experts should be established to evaluate the projects.

More generally, the tiny emirate is a privileged economic and financial partner of France. He just bought 1% of LVMH, and 2% of Total has increased to 12.8% its stake in Lagardere.

The CEO of specialist payment terminals, Philippe Lazare, told Reuters detect "significant room for improvement" in Southeast Asia, where it is to affû ; t acquisitions.

"The past year has confirmed that emerging markets are really the primary drivers of growth and the business model with an increasing share of our service activities and transactions (compared to) our terminal activities is a strategy that works, "he argued in an interview. 

Ingenico had to rethink its strategy last year after renouncing buy U.S. assets of Hypercom as a result of a decision of the department improve Rican Justice to initiate an antitrust action.

In the U.S., where the group's clients include distribution groups Wal-Mart and Home Depot, Ingenico expects much of the ongoing transition of the United States to smart cards, lead to a prompt Renewal of the terminal stores.

Ingenico, which counts among its competitors Gemalto, First Data and Heartland Payment Systems, is also betting on the transaction management services and maintenance of payment terminals, for not having to rely on its core business , manufacture and sale of terminals. 

This service activity should represent 40% of turnover next year as against 32% today, said Philippe Lazare.

Ingenico announced last month reaching for the first time in 2011 the symbolic threshold of one billion euros in revenue, driven by the dynamism of emerging countries.

For 2012, the group said it expected growth of over 8% on a comparable basis of its revenues and an EBITDA margin of greater than or equal to 18.3% .

The action, which exceeded 85 euros at the height of the dotcom bubble, touched a low of 4.6 euros in 2003. The title has turned the corner since 2009 and was up 28% since the beginning of the year at nearly 36 euros.

Ingenico, whose biggest shareholder is the supplier of defense and security Safran, in 2010 had rejected an offer to 28 euros per share of U.S. conglomerate Danaher, but Philippe Lazare said his group left for sale. At the right price.

"Clearly, society has been widely appreciated since this offer," he said. "We will continue to strengthen our balance sheet and strategy and make acquisitions to grow our relevant value. After, if someone wants to buy us one day, he will be welcome provided that it will put the price ".

The Dow Jones Industrial 30 yielded 0.35%, or 45.57 points, to 13,124.62. The S & P-500, wider, lost 2.63 points, or 0.19%, to 1402.89. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 1.17, however, points (+0.04%) to 3,075.32.

The S & P 500 benchmark index fund managers, however, retains a gain of approximately 12% since the beginning of the year.

"We reached a plateau, but basically, the deal has not changed (…) There could be a setback but I see the stock market to grow to 1,430 or 1,450 items, "said Joe Benanti, CEO of Rosenblatt Securities, referring to the level of the S & P 500.

The former real estate sales declined in February against all expectations in the U.S. and inventories of unsold homes increased, according to data released Wednesday by the National Federation of Officers Real Estate (NAR). 

This statistic interrupts a recent run of good macroeconomic indicators and a reminder that the housing market, considered key to a sustainable recovery in the U.S., is still not completely out of case.

Despite rising oil prices, the S & P energy grouping values ​​fell 1.04%. That financial stocks lost 0.43% after rising on nine of the last 10 sessions.

"Some parts make me say that we are perhaps at the beginning of a correction of up to 4%: the relative poor performance of industrial and energy , the reversal of financial, "said Seth Setrakian, co-leader of the U.S. equities department at First New York Securities.

"Investors are waiting in general the beginning of a new quarter to regain some of their beads. This can happen earlier if everyone expects the same thing. "

In a note to clients, Goldman Sachs said, however, that the prospects for equity market returns, compared to bonds, are the best in a generation

. "Given the current valuations, we think it should say" goodbye for a long time "for obligations and start" buying long "on shares," said the middle .. The title

……. Oracle fell 2.29% to 29.41 dollars after posting its quarterly results yesterday, marked s in a drop in revenue from hardware sales. 

The action Hewlett-Packard for its part, yielded 2.17% to 23.46 dollars after the software giant announced the merger of its divisions PCs and printers as part of a major reorganization designed to generate savings and boost growth.

The Nasdaq Composite Index, heavily weighted in technology, however, was brought up by 2.46% to 13.72 of the action after the developer Zynga online game announced ; redeem OMGPOP, the manufacturer of the game popular "Draw Something".