Prime Minister Lucas Papademos called on Sunday for three party leaders Greek government to publicly commit to implement the reforms demanded by the country's creditors in return for a second help.
The three party leaders were summoned Greek government on Sunday by Lucas Papademos to overcome their objections to the new austerity measures demanded by creditors, even if they have so far resulted only exacerbate the recession of countries.
George Papandreou, Antonis Samaras and George Karatzaferis – respectively leaders of the Socialist party, New Democracy (right) and Laos (far right) represented in the Greek coalition government – arrived mid-afternoon Maximos the palace, where the offices of the Prime Minister.
The representatives of the troika of institutional creditors of the country (euro area, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund) have previously met the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and the Minister of Labour. The Greek government has been negotiating for weeks on the establishment of a structural adjustment program of the country in exchange for a second loan of at least 130 billion euros, which would add to that 110 billion awarded in May 2010 the country to protect it from bankruptcy.
100 billion euros of debt
Negotiations described as "superhuman" Sunday by a senior government official, intended to prevent Greece a default in the month of March. An alternative trading-just as crucial-government with its private creditors to erase 100 billion euros of debt, depends on negotiating with creditors. Among the hard spots, rejected both by the Greek trade union leaders by most politicians, are the demands of the troika of generalized lowering labor costs.
"I come with the hope that I will not repeat what was said recently the former German Chancellor (Helmut) Schmidt," said George Karatzaferis to the press on arrival at the Prime Minister, after warning that it did not feel ready to bow to pressure from Berlin or "blackmail". In December, Helmut Schmidt had expressed concern about how other countries dealt Berlin and European partners in managing the debt crisis, when Germany imposes its solutions to its neighbors.
Saturday night, the Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the negotiations "on the razor's edge" were to conclude Sunday evening that Greece avoided a default in March
Risk of bankruptcy in March
The leader of the Eurogroup, Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker, has also lobbied on Saturday night by evoking the risk of "bankruptcy" of Greece in March if the reforms demanded were not completed.
"If we were to find that everything goes awry in Greece, then there would be no new program" refinancing of the country, said the head of government of Luxembourg. "This would mean bankruptcy in March," he added. "Greece must know that we will not back down on the issue of privatization," he said, regretting that there is no other "elements of corruption at all levels of government" Greek.
The opponents argue that wage cuts will exacerbate the recession in Greece, where the economy is stifled by a recession that puts on airs of depression, with GDP expected to fall by around 6% in 2011 after two years of austerity.
According to a government study released last week, the unit labor costs in Greece has already fallen by 14.3% between the first quarter 2010 and third quarter 2011.
But according to the head of IMF mission in Greece Poul Thomsen, measures of wage compression in the private sector will boost the economy through a gain in competitiveness. Paul Thomsen has advocated such a reduction in the minimum wage, a red rag to the unions, saying only 751 euros gross per month was 35% higher than in Portugal, and 20% in Spain.
Faurecia announced Friday the successful refinancing for a $ 1.5 billion, the group has launched Monday.
These operations include a bond due in December 2016, for $ 350 million with a coupon of 9.375%, said the automotive supplier in a statement.
The refinancing of Faurecia also involves a new syndicated loan of 1,150 million, consisting of two bands A (690 million euros) and B (460 million), respectively of maturity in November 2014 and November 2016.
These two operations will allow us to prepay a loan of 250 million euros made by Peugeot in conjunction with the refinancing of the existing syndicated bank also said Faurecia.
The European Union has every confidence in Greece with regard to compliance with its commitments made at the EU summit last week, when a new aid package of € 130 billion was reached, said Tuesday the two main leaders of the euro area.
"We note the intention of the Greek authorities to hold a referendum," write the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in a joint statement.
"We believe that this agreement is the best for Greece.We have every confidence in Greece to honor the commitments made to the euro area and the international community. "
José Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy added that they spoke with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and said that the referendum question would be discussed on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Cannes, which runs from November 3 to 5.
The U.S. economy continued to grow at a slow pace in September, but prospects appear dim, believes the Federal Reserve in its "beige book" on Wednesday.
"The economy as a whole has continued to grow in September, although many districts described the pace of growth as" modest "or" low "and contacts have generally found a weakening outlook," says the Fed This situation report.
Wall Street and oil prices went up in free fall as a result of this paper while the price of Treasuries rose.
The memo on the economy the Fed is based on data collected before October 7 and deals with all the economic conditions in the 12 Fed districts, which cover the entire United States.
According to the Beige Book, consumer spending rose slightly in most districts, thanks to the automotive industry and tourism.
There was also an increase in business investment, particularly in construction and mining.
While a number of districts have experienced some recovery in construction activity, "the general conditions of real estate – residential as commercial – are still depressed."
Also according to the survey, several districts noted that many retailers are reluctant to build up stocks despite the approach of the holiday season, reflecting a decline in consumer confidence.
This holiday season – which runs from Thanksgiving to Christmas – is at least half the annual turnover of many stores.
Interviewed on CNBC, the president of the Boston Fed Eric Rosengren said the Fed may have to increase support measures if the U.S. economy weakened further or if it was affected by a new shock.
LyondellBasell group wants to close its refinery in Berre, in the Bouches-du-Rhone. If the project is completed, France will have lost three refineries in a year. The number of hexagonal site will be increased from 23 to 10 in the space of 40 years. Employees of the LyondellBasell refinery in Berre, in a social movement in 2010.
The carnage continues for oil refineries. Total after Dunkirk in 2010 and Petroplus to Reichstett (Bas-Rhin) in June, the American petrochemical company LyondellBasell announced Tuesday plans to close its refinery in Berre, in the Bouches-du-Rhone, which it considers unprofitable .
The site employs 370 employees in a petrochemical complex in 1270 employees will lose 120 million euros a year depending on the direction. But the group failed to sell it. No less than "85 entities around the world were approached during the sale process, to no avail.The refinery has in fact been no bid "has he explained. This ensures that only 370 jobs are directly affected refining risk. But unions argue that the loss of jobs could extend to the entire complex.
In response, nearly a thousand employees voted in a general meeting Tuesday the start of a "strike hard" for 48 hours. Wednesday, the entire petrochemical complex was shut down. Between 200 and 300 employees are present for locking, according to unions. The next general meeting is scheduled this Thursday at noon. Those decisions involved a year to the day after the start of great social movement that paralyzed almost all French refineries and caused a fuel shortage.
General meetings in nine out of ten sites
And the risk of a new scale strike is beginning to emerge.The movement of employees of LyondellBasell could spread, even if solidarity is shy at the moment. Employees of nine of the ten French refineries have held general meetings on Wednesday. And could lead to possible actions. But for now, only employees of the Total refinery at Donges, Loire-Atlantique, voted in favor of an immediate movement but symbolic: a decline in production to a minimum flow for 24 hours.
On the side of the Total refinery in Gonfreville l'Orcher, near Le Havre, general meetings were also held. But only a third of the participants voted in favor of a strike and the unions did not consider the results sufficient to initiate an action. A Fos-sur-Mer, in the ExxonMobil refinery, there was no general meeting.
The situation could change Friday.A meeting of employees of the four sites in the area of Berre be held and could lead to possible actions. If the strike is decided, it could spread to other refineries.
France lost 12 refineries in 40 years
The future seems to darken French refineries from year to year. There were 23 in the late 70's, there are no more than 11 still active today. And the closure of the Berre could add to this sad list. Refineries "are in excess production capacity, and do not have sufficient opportunities" because of "demand is very sluggish," said Jean-Louis Schilansky President of the French Union of Petroleum Industries (Ufip). It will even "operating loss of several hundred million euros" in 2011, a trend in "neighbor" of 2009, when they lost 1 billion euros, "he added.According to Les Echos, refining margins, which represent the difference between the price of refined products and their production costs, decreased by 60% between 2008 and 2009. And are now at a "crisis level".
French refineries were in effect in 2010, almost 82 million tonnes of petroleum products like gasoline, diesel or fuel oil. But demand remains well below capacity. Consumption in France in 2010 reached 33.6 million tonnes of diesel and 8.2 million tonnes of gasoline. "Since 2007, there was a drop in consumption in Europe related to energy conservation, and the phenomenon is exacerbated by economic crises," said Constancio Silva, an economist at the French Petroleum Institute-New Energies.
"The divestitures or closures inevitable"
He said the refiners were not able to adapt to changes in demand.They suffered from the rise of the French nuclear fleet. This has indeed led to a decline in demand for heavy fuel oil, which was used previously to operate power plants.
In addition, refiners have invested in the 70 and 80, in units of gasoline production, then the fuel most consumed in France. But they were surprised by the explosion in demand for diesel, accentuated by a favorable tax and lower consumption of diesel engines. The sale of diesel fuel currently represents 75% of fuel sales in France. Motorists consume 33 million tons, but French production capacity amounts to only 20 million. Refineries hexagonal therefore find themselves being forced to export 30% of its production of gasoline, including the United States where, again, demand has slowed.According to the Professional Committee of oil, gasoline sales abroad have in fact fallen by 20%. And Parellel, oil companies are forced to buy diesel fuel abroad, which increases their expenses.
In this context, "ultimately, disposals or closures will be inevitable," says the Ufip. Pessimism that refuses to admit the unions. In response to the closure of the Berre, CFDT and CGT federations in the industry, oil chemistry yelled "stop the slaughter." "This announcement is unacceptable. For it is not linked solely to the problems of weak refining margins and the inadequacy of the means of production with the market, the surplus of gasoline and diesel deficit" Have they denounced.
According to them, refinery closures meet market logic and a lack of investment.The FNIC-CGT calls "a multi-year investment" on the basis of the report of the French Institute of Petroleum, which presented June 22, through investment, featured tracks of development for French refineries.
An argument shared by Thomas Porcher, PhD in economics author of "A barrel of oil against 100 lies." He said the lack of investment to change the production structure of French refineries explains their lack of profitability. "Despite the record profits from the price effect of rising oil prices, these investments were ousted in favor of a preference for investments in refineries near the mining areas. This is the case Total in Saudi Arabia with the Jubail refinery example. It can produce low-cost, because of its proximity to the deposits.But it is especially with a modern production system to adapt the ratio diesel / petrol desired. The problem of refining French could no longer be similar "to a lay-sector" including the means of production have become unsuitable as a problem of competitiveness. While the first causes the second "he says.
The state has proposed 10 to 15 billion euros to French banks to strengthen their capital in the same way as in 2008 but the project was buried because of the opposition BNP Paribas, wrote the Journal du dimanche.
Citing unnamed sources close to banking and the Elysee, the Sunday newspaper added that this proposal was made at a meeting on September 11, between the Director of Treasury and leaders of BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Credit Agricole, People's Bank, Savings Bank, and Credit Mutuel.
Approached by Reuters, the Treasury has made no immediate comment. The governor of the Banque de France, Christian Noyer, assures him in an interview with JDD that "there is no plan.And besides we do not need. "
He emphasized that "the only thing that exists is the mechanism 2008 of a public company may purchase securities in the capital of banks if they express a need. So if there was an extraordinary event, this mechanism is place, "a statement which does not seem inconsistent with the alleged proposal of the French authorities cited by the JDD.
According to the JDD, "the state has offered to support French banks in the same way in 2008.""The pattern was to inject this time between 10 and 15 billion euros of public money to strengthen their capital base."
"Many intervention schemes were under consideration, simple loan to the issuance of preferred shares with warrants," the paper said.
Societe Generale, whose share price tumbled, accepted this solution provided all the French banks involved but "BNP Paribas declined to be supportive, burying the project immediately," the JDD.
Contacted by Reuters, BNP Paribas and Societe Generale had no comment.
To address the financial crisis following the collapse of U.S. bank Lehman Brothers, the French government established in the fall of 2008 a plan to help the banking sector by mobilizing a budget of 360 billion euros, including 40 billion to build equity and 320 billion to help banks refinance themselves via the Company's financing of the French economy (SFEF).
Axa has hired investment bank Credit Suisse to explore the sale of its private equity division, told Reuters on Friday two sources familiar with the matter.
The British news channel SkyNews had indicated this morning that the French group insurance decided to sell its subsidiary AXA Private Equity, adding that it could be worth one billion pounds (1.15 billion euros ).
"It's like any new process," said one source, noting that the figure of one billion sterling mentioned as selling prices seemed quite high.
Axa and its subsidiary did not wish to make comments.
A spokesman for Axa said Axa Private Equity, an AXA IM managed $ 28 billion in assets.
Axa PE announced in August with the acquisition of HSH Nordbank much of a portfolio of 620 million euros, having already completed in June the acquisition of a portfolio of Citigroup for $ 1.7 billion (1, 17 billion) and another from Barclays for 740 million dollars.
In April 2010, AXA Private Equity acquired for $ 1.9 billion of private equity investment in Bank of America, when signing the largest-ever by a single buyer in this market.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou would consider the possibility of consulting the Greeks on solutions to overcome the debt crisis, says the Greek press. The abandonment of the euro would be an option. Athens has denied this information. The Temple of Zeus in Athens.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou would explore the possibility to consult the public in a referendum on how best to tackle the debt crisis, or remaining in the euro area, either by abandoning the single currency, a Greek daily said Tuesday.The Prime Minister would be based on a favorable outcome for the euro to continue its drastic austerity policies applied at the request of the creditors of the country, the euro area and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the daily Kathimerini said, Citing "sources" unidentified.
A text of the bill was under development, understands the everyday., No confirmation could be obtained from official sources on Tuesday morning. The Greek Ministry of Finance on Tuesday denied that information. "It makes no sense," said a source at the Ministry of Finance told AFP. Given the scale of protests in Greece last spring, Mr.Papandreou announced June 19 the holding of a referendum in the fall to concentrate on "the great changes that the government aims for the country", including political reforms as the functioning of parliament, the electoral system as well as an overhaul of the judicial system.
According to opinion polls, the Greeks have lost confidence in their political and judicial system, which has never been able to stem the endemic corruption in the country. The information on a proposed referendum on the euro are published at the time the Minister of Finance negotiates fiercely with the troika of the country's creditors seeking the implementation of austerity measures decided in July (fewer staff, reducing public expenditure) before paying the next $ 8 billion euros of the loan in May 2010 to avoid bankruptcy the country.
Toyota announced Friday the hiring of 800 employees on fixed-term contract on its site Onnaing (North) from January to respond to the success of the Yaris III, who is built.
The announcement was made at the plant Onnaing by Makoto Sano, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF).
Toyota will put in place from January 3rd a third shift of production to meet the specifications of orders for the Yaris III, stronger than expected in Italy and the countries of northern Europe.
Toyota will hire 800 employees with contracts of 18 months. Once recruitment is complete, the size of the Toyota plant to reach Onnaing 4300 employees, a record since it opened in 2001. Toyota Onnaing site is dedicated to the production of the Yaris.
Release said this morning that the CNT had reserved 35% of the black gold to France in exchange for his support for the rebellion. A soldier in the camp of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi near the oil refinery in Ras Lanouf, March 12, 2011.
The representative in Paris of the National Transition Council, the governing body of the rebellion Jamahiriya, denied Thursday that the CNT has signed with France a document promising him 35% of Libyan oil, in a statement to AFP.
Hours before the start of a summit dedicated to the democratic reconstruction of Libya in Paris, the French daily Liberation published a letter dated April 3, headed the "Popular Front for the Liberation of Libya" and addressed to the Emir of Qatar in which the CNT said it has signed an "agreement to give 35% of total crude oil in exchange for French support to our total and permanent
I've never heard of this front, "responded Mansour Sayf al-Nasr, special envoy of the CNT in Paris." All documents, all treaties are signed valid CNT ", he argued, rejecting any other document as invalid. The governing body of the Libyan rebels are known, since late February that as the National Transition Council.The only reference to a "Liberation Front" on the Internet refers to the letter of April 3, published by Liberation on Thursday and runs for weeks on the web.
Asked on RTL radio on Thursday, the French foreign minister Alain Juppe said "not aware of such a letter." "The CNT has said very formally in the reconstruction, he addressed preferentially to those who supported him, which seems quite logical and fair," he said, repeating does not have "knowledge of formal agreement. " "We are not alone. The Italians, the Americans are there," he said.
From London, the representative of al-CNT Guma Gamaty assured that future contracts on the exploitation of Libyan oil shall be granted "based on merit, not patronage."Libya, the fourth largest producer in Africa (after Nigeria, Angola and Algeria), exported before the insurrection against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi 80% of its black gold to Europe, especially Italy and France.
Libya has the largest oil reserves in Africa, with 44 billion barrels, far ahead of Nigeria (37.2 billion barrels) and Algeria (12.2 billion). These large companies are Italy's Eni, French giant Total and the Anglo-American BP, Shell and ExxonMobil. The country has also almost doubled its exports of natural gas in recent years, 5.4 billion m3 per year in 2005 to over 10 billion m3 of this year, according to OPEC, through a new pipeline to the Italy. Its reserves are estimated at 1,540 billion m3.In early August, the CNT was committed to honor, "he will govern as a temporary", "all financial contracts and petroleum agreements under Gaddafi."
