Drive improvement in public finances in Europe. The 17 euro zone countries have reduced their cumulative deficit to 4.1% of GDP in 2011 against 6.2% in 2010, Eurostat reported Monday. It is however still far from pre-crisis level: in 2007, the deficit of the euro area amounted to only 2.1%.

Throughout the European Union, "the largest government deficits high, relative to GDP were recorded in Ireland (-13.1%), Greece (-9.1%), Spain (- 8.5%), UK (-8.3%), "Eurostat reported. France, it has reduced its deficit from 7.1% in 2010 to 5.2% in 2011. It's better than expected initially, the first estimates assuming a gap between revenue and expenditure of -5.7%.

This is especially out of belt-tightening that 17 countries have successfully reduced by more than 2 points the hole in public finances. Government spending has in fact fallen faster than revenues have increased, to reduce the deficit. The first shrank by 1.6 points, to 49.3% of GDP, against 0.5 points for second, with 45.2% of GDP. Throughout the European Union, "24 Member States recorded an improvement in the deficit (including France, Ed), deteriorating two and one remained stable," leading the European Institute of Statistics.

Although the deficit in the euro area has narrowed, the public debt, it has continued to swell. Certainly, at a slower pace than previously. Debt rose by almost two percentage points, to 87.2% in 2011, exploded after nearly five and a half points in 2010 and almost ten points in 2009, as a result of the crisis. Still, the observed level, 14 states have had their debts exceed the bar 60% of GDP limit set by the European Treaty. Among them, Greece (165.3% of debt), Italy (120.1%), Ireland (108.2%) but also France (85.8%) and Germany (81 , 2%).

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Christine Lagarde is more than ever determined to "increase the firepower of the International Monetary Fund", that its financial resources. But if the euro area "is the epicenter of the potential risks" of the global economy, "Europe is not the only one? We are not obsessed with a region "said Thursday in Washington, executive director of the IMF during a press conference that opened two days of spring meetings of IMF and World Bank.

Capacity building support from the Fund will be the highlight of the discussions to be attended especially the G20 finance ministers. Christine Lagarde has renewed its appreciation to Japan, "the first country that has decided to commit themselves" to the tune of 60 billion euros, while acknowledging "the Scandinavian countries who responded to the call and Singapore."

The Japanese contribution is the first quantified commitment to a non-European. This is in addition to those States of the euro area itself, which from the outset, have said they would put 150 billion euros in the pot (just under $ 200 billion). But Christine Lagarde, who had advanced earlier this year the figure of 500 billion, reduced its ambitions "to just over $ 400 billion" figure it has itself argued in an interview Tuesday Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.

Bilateral borrowing agreements

The negotiations will be very difficult and should not be concluded this week with the aim of reaching agreement at the annual meetings of October 2012 in Tokyo. On behalf of the United States, Tim Geithner, Treasury Secretary, said two days ago that his country "would not put money" but would support those participating in the operation payday loans. Recall that this strengthening of resources take the form of bilateral loan agreements with its 188 member countries (including the last admitted this week is Southern Sudan). It is not a capital increase of the IMF, as such. Now this is where the rub the side of the emerging countries, including China and Brazil, who would like to link this extension means the Fund to an expansion of their representation. Now it is even less question that the last reform of 2010 increasing quotas and powers to the board in favor of emerging countries mainly, has still not been ratified by the necessary majority. Within the G20, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States, have not yet ratified, do we reported to the IMF.

Christine Lagarde must also combat the widely held in international public opinion that the firewall is only designed to help Europe, Spain and Italy, among others. She also found that Spain does not need assistance plan "for now".

Executive Director of the IMF insisted on Thursday the new initiatives launched recently, as "the trust fund for the poorest countries", mentioning also "the five countries of the Arab Spring, for which we need more resources." But the difficulty is to find a common agreement with the governments, especially with Egypt, for which the loan of $ 3.2 billion from the IMF, which should be a catalyst for international aid, is still pending .

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Not a word has filtered out of the conversation between Nicolas Sarkozy and PSA boss Philippe Varin. For nearly an hour, the two men met at the Elysee about the factory in Aulnay-sous-Bois in Seine Saint-Denis. The future of this plant, which employs over 3,300 people, would be threatened, unions fear. The presidency as the automotive group has declined to comment on leaving the meeting.

Nicolas Sarkozy wanted to convince Philippe Varin to organize a roundtable discussion with unions and industry minister, Eric Besson, "next week" to discuss the future of the site. A request of the unions, the president-candidate met Thursday at his campaign headquarters.

"All done" to save the plant

Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday, on the antenna of i-TV: he will "do anything to save this plant." For him, it must "ease the burden on the wages of employees and the contributions of the company." He recalled that the business tax that has weighed deleted "250 euro per car manufactured in France." "It's fine to say that the cars must be manufactured in France, but if you put on in France making more taxes than elsewhere, there is a relocation," he concluded.

The unions said they were somewhat reassured after their head to head with Nicolas Sarkozy. "The words we hear a lot, but the words fly away, we want it written guarantees, said Jean-Pierre Mercier, the CGT. We play our skin. "And not just employees of PSA 9000 with direct and indirect jobs, PSA Aulnay is one of the largest employers in Seine-Saint-Denis, according to the General Council.

The record of the Aulnay plant is back on center stage last weekend. The unions had then expressed their disappointment after a meeting between employee representatives and management organized by the prefect of Seine Saint-Denis. But the concern of unions as of June 2011 and the disclosure of internal working documents of the automaker speculating a closure of Aulnay. Unions fear that the decline in production will continue and lead eventually to a cessation of activity on this site.

"We want to continue working"

In recent months the government has stepped up operations in the industrial thorny issues. Latest success, the recovery of the carrier Sernam by Geodis. In the case of Peugeot, the unions are skeptical, as expressed by Jean-Pierre Mercier Thursday: "We all know that the management of Peugeot expects the presidential and legislative elections to officially announce the closure of this factory, we are unwilling not die, we want to continue working. "

Announced the surge does not occur. With complete freedom of movement since 1 May 2011, workers from eight Eastern European countries have not crossed the German border en masse. To the chagrin of a country in need of labor.

Last spring, there was a lot of hope and concern. The bosses were rejoicing the arrival of a highly skilled labor force required, the unions were alarmed competition for low wage costs. Frank-Juergen Weise, head of the Federal Employment Agency, estimated at 140,000 the number of workers from the East who would cross the German border. A year later, in an interview with the Rheinische Zeitung, there were fewer than half, 61,000.

Since 1 May 2011, nationals of eight countries of the European Union (Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia) have the right to come and work freely in Germany and Austria. "It's a pendulum swing of history, Timo J. Bass, of the Institute on the labor market (IAB). We Germans, who need so much labor and skilled young, we shot in the foot. "

When Europe has expanded to twenty-seven members in 2004, Berlin, Vienna and Brussels had negotiated with a further period of seven years to fully open their labor markets payday loan. Meanwhile, workers from the East who want to improve their living conditions have already emigrated. Location: England, Ireland, Scandinavia and Switzerland, with more attractive salaries.

Wages less attractive

Germany, however, suffers from the image of a country with low wages and poor career prospects. "Employers also require a perfect knowledge of the German language," says Timo Bass. In the globalized market and highly competitive "Best Minds" Germany is a party with several lengths behind.

Today, the sketch of immigrants came from Eastern Germany is Poland (67%), works at a temp agency or in the building sector, in one of the richest regions of the country as Bavaria. Those who cross the border rather are those who do not find work at home. Therefore: competition weighs more on low wages.

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"Market analysts estimate that the main candidates for future elections continue to show a clear commitment on public finances and reducing deficits. Investors still have confidence in our debt, "assured the FigaroPhilippe Mills, head of Agence France Trésor, the end of January. Debt, however this is a word we have heard since long in the mouth of the two favorites for the 2012 elections, Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande.

The gigantic figure announced Friday morning by INSEE – 1.7173 trillion euros, or 85.8% of GDP-has something to put the subject at the heart of the debate. And makes an urgent exercise of teaching on how to control deficits and debt, in a context where electoral promises are multiplying. The French in need, who have a concern, as investors continue to regard France as a country whose debt is reliable. And therefore, to lend to Paris to lower interest rate. For the record, this is partly because she did not see how the Hexagon was able to return to the nails of Maastricht that the rating agency Standard & Poor's had deprived him of his AAA mid-January free 3-in-1 credit report.

The right-wing candidate Nicolas Sarkozy promises "a financial closure to the nearest euro" of its program for the next five years if elected. He will detail next week. His rival from left, Francois Hollande, is vague on how to finance a project already well exposed. Just know that it is more by tax increases that cost savings that the Socialist candidate intends to restore order in the French public accounts.

For that stabilizes the debt, the deficit must be approaching 2% (against 5.2% in 2011). France does not expect that to happen before 2014. And to achieve this, efforts will be very important. It is therefore understandable that candidates avoid stress this enough sobering perspective …

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Alert at Total. The gas leak occurred Sunday afternoon on his Elgin gas field, 240 kilometers east of Aberdeen in Scotland is growing. Tuesday afternoon, the authorities decided to ban flights within 3 nautical miles (5.5 km) from the Elgin platform and navigation within 2 miles (3.7 km).

The latest information provided by a spokesman for Total in Aberdeen, the gas does not ignite. The 238 employees of the platform were evacuated by helicopter Monday, without being able to stop the leak. And for good reason, Elgin is nicknamed "the pit of hell" because of the pressure and temperature "extremes" in the words of the website of Total, prevailing in the gas tank, buried 5000 meters below seabed. Total According, the pressure is of the order of 1100 bars, the equivalent of one tonne concentrated on the surface of a fingernail. By comparison, the pressure in the well Deepwater Horizon, in the Gulf of Mexico, scene of the worst oil spill in U.S. in 2010 was 800 bars.

Two fireboats are on alert at the limit of two miles, ready to intervene. Tuesday afternoon, experts from Total does not always explain the reasons for flight. Among the possible operations is discussed drilling a relief well which would reduce the pressure of the leak in the original well. An intervention that would take six months, admits it at Total.

According to the spokesman of the French company in Aberdeen, 20 tons of gas may have leaked. Moreover, the condensate-oil-sprawled on Tuesday 4.8 km2. A plane with the dispersant on board was ready to take off. The company Shell has reduced its staff on its neighboring platforms and Noble Hans Deul Shearwater.

Total shares fall

At the Paris Bourse, the action of a number of CAC 40 lost 8% to 14.30. At Total, the oil slick from the Deepwater Horizon BP in 2010 is on everyone's mind. The company has launched a website dedicated to the incident.

According to Frederic Hauge of Bellona Norwegian environmental NGO that monitors the production of hydrocarbons in the North Sea, quoted by Reuters, "the staff has seen the sea boil. I am very concerned about the situation. It can only get worse. "

The French are discouraged before they even take steps to resolve a dispute. It is thought that nine out of ten surveyed by Ipsos for the first edition of the barometer Axa legal protection. Justice remains an unknown for most of them: 80% do not know who to turn to know their rights, and 97% believe that the justice system is difficult to understand.

Worse, seven out of ten French think they have no financial means to defend themselves. Godsend for the legal protection insurers, which offer information in their contracts, and if necessary support – within limits – of legal fees. According to the Ministry of Justice, the cost of resolving a dispute is on average 200 euros for the costs of bailiff, 500 euros for an amicable and 1500 euros to cover attorney fees for a procedure .

Family, an area seldom covered by insurance

The French think that the main sources of conflict are employment, housing and the Internet. In fact, the most common disputes relate primarily to the housing (25%), led by neighborhood problems and relations between landlord and tenant, and Internet purchases (24%). Relations with the employer is not a priority (23%).

Numerous disputes also affect the field of family (divorce, inheritance …). But legal protection insurers rarely venture in this field. Axa Protection legal disputes of this nature are supported only if the client has signed the contract the more upscale, costing between 140 and 300 euros per year, much higher than a domestic contract classic (63 euros per year).

The insurer, like others, offers customers a hotline: a lawyer tells them about their rights and answered their questions. This service receives 175,000 calls a year. The insurer sees submit 36,000 new claims per year, most amicably resolved.

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Traders are torn between fatalism and resignation. According to the ninth wave of the observatory shops conducted by Ifop for the retirement of independent mutual Medicis, 86% of traders are worried about the French economy. 70% are for the future of their trade. These figures are up sharply over 2009 and 2008.

Many find that a very real way the economic downturn. Observe a 43% drop in attendance of their stores. An increase of 9 percentage points compared to May 2011. Two out of five professionals interviewed explained that their revenue has fallen since January. 46% expect their turnover is stable.

Traders have a positive on various measures taken by Nicolas Sarkozy since the beginning of his term in April 2007. 77% qualify as "good" tax exemption for overtime, the 67% increase in the age of retirement. 61% favor the elimination of business tax. But they are only 51% to defend the introduction of VAT at 7% in restaurants. They are hostile against the increase of 1.6 percentage points of VAT. 62% feel it is a "bad thing".

Reduction of charges

Concerned about the future of small shops they fear of losing, traders are worried about their retirement and for their welfare. Little interest in the presidential election, they condemn the indifference of political leaders towards them. 81% feel that the candidates for president do not understand their professional concerns.

Almost one in three believes that candidates are not aware of the weight they represent in the French economy: France has 750,000 merchants employing 2 million people and generating 343 billion euros in turnover. Asked about their expectations, 73% required a reduction of charges. Specifically, almost one in two merchant would be they who lower employer costs. More than one in three plead for a lower wage costs. But they are only 23% want trade to be protected and promoted by measures. A minority (8%) asked for more financial aid from the government and banks to hire or grow. Only 4% consider it a priority the defense of "Made in France" or the taxation of imports in favor of French products.

Not surprisingly, Nicolas Sarkozy remains their preferred candidate. 37% say they would vote for him in the first round of the presidential election when they were 44% in the first round in 2007. Francois Hollande is second with 19%. It is followed by Marine Le Pen (18%) and Francois Bayrou (16%).

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SWFs have definitely an appetite for stone. In January, Qatari Diar, already owns the premises of the Hotel Royal Monceau in Paris, put his hand on those of the Carlton in Cannes. Reportedly, GIC, the Singapore fund, has made him a ticket of 100 million euros in the funds spent on office property completed by the end of 2011 Altarea land.

This spectacular arrival of sovereign wealth funds in commercial real estate almost makes you forget a more pervasive phenomenon. Insurance companies have become the biggest buyers of offices, shopping centers, hotels and warehouses. According to the consulting firm Cushman & Wakefield, they earned last year 26% of investments in this asset class in France. Their representatives are out in force this week in Cannes at MIPIM, the international exhibition industry.

"With the crisis, insurers have found that some of their favored investments such as bonds had become riskier, says Xavier Seagull, Director of Acquisitions at Allianz Real Estate France. They therefore turned to real estate. "These properties correspond perfectly to the needs of insurers, they offer a 6% return, which allows them to fulfill the contract made with the purchasers of life insurance: a performance around 4%.

As a result, insurers have decided to strengthen real estate. Allianz, which was 3% of its investments in stone in 2008, rose to 4% and now account for 6% of spend the next four to five years. "At group level, we want to happen in three years at the 10% position in real estate as against 7.5% today," says Philippe Depoux his part, Chairman of Generali Real Estate France.

Acquisitions financed with equity

Insurers are likely to keep their goals because they have a secret weapon: with the money collected by life insurance, they can finance their operations from their own funds. An asset, at a time when banks have drastically reduced their loans to buy back buildings and shopping centers. "Today, we are fine business when they were proposed by the trustees of private equity funds that financed their operations by resorting to massive debt," said Joelle Chauvin, Property Manager of Aviva France.

Each insurer has its strategy. Aviva took the risk of launching 50-50 with Predica construction of a tower of defense, Carpe Diem, to be delivered late 2012-early 2013. An operation "blank", that is to say developed without identifying a tenant. An approach that refrains Allianz, positioned on existing buildings with long leases. In 2011, the German company bought 260 million Forum Seine, a building of 35,000 m2 including leased Locapost. However, these players are always looking for the same locations: Paris, La Défense and near western suburbs.

Along with their purchases of real estate, insurers are increasingly engaging in more in mortgages that are secured on the asset value to fund. One way to enjoy the disengagement of the banks real estate field. The possibility of waiving the banking monopoly is under the Insurance Code. Axa and Allianz have decided to play the forerunners in this field.

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"The Empire State Building will go public

CEO of the Caisse des Depots since 2007, Augustin de Romanet takes stock of his term as head of the financial institution publique.Il defends a vision of long-term, theme also of his book, "Not to thirty painful" , to be published next month by Plon.

LE FIGARO. – March 2007-March 2012, your tenure as head of the Deposit has been essentially that of crisis management?

Augustine ROMANET – The first thing I did upon arriving was to establish a strategic plan, the first for twenty-five years! This plan was conceived before the outbreak of the crisis, which was a chance: we had in effect given to this house a solid foundation and then through the turbulence. If the five years of my term were five years of crisis in the Deposit, then this is the etymological sense: krino, reinte? Prevention.

How have you adapted to the CDC this time of crisis?

In 2007, it was obvious that the economy of debt had reached its limits. We have defined ourselves as a long term investor, a term that might seem strange. It was taken by the Act of August 4, 2008 and came into common parlance. The mission of the Deposit is one that expresses its social utility, the provider of capital to long term, the first in the country through its various tools. We also have modernized the governance of the institution for its action is no longer subject to suspicion.

The bailouts of Dexia, the down payment in the Post, the interventions of the Strategic Investment Fund (ISF)? CDC does she not done too much, at the expense of financial security?

No. The Deposit is not weakened. Its capital is now greater than 2 billion euros to what it was in 2006. However, they are now just below the level set by the supervisory model, which has just been arrested. This means that the CDC must make choices. Through the savings fund, it is the largest financer of social housing. It will become a major player in financing local government, with the Post Bank. It is the largest investor in the territories, the majority shareholder of ISP and 26% shareholder in the La Poste group and 27% of OSEO. It will be a key player in the Greater Paris, through Icade and Egis. She manages on behalf of the State 8 programs of large loan? It is not a vision that eluded him.

Does the ISP also been at full strength? The state or parliamentarians might have wished that more intervention. Did you have to refuse certain files?

The debates were sometimes harsh. But at no time, as chairman of the board of the ISP, I had to put the state in the minority. We always found a consensus. The interest of companies brought together the State and the CDC in this tool is an outstanding success.

Beyond the ISP, what were your relations with the state?

They are reminiscent of rugby: it's not because the contacts are honest and manly that it is not a sport of gentlemen fast cash advance. That the Deposit respects the State, it is natural, but the state also met the Deposit during these five years.

The CDC will announce she losses for 2011?

No. It will be beneficial, probably close to 200 million euros, despite the loss of Dexia. This is good news. I add that no longer exists on the balance sheet of the institution any impairment that would have been deferred.

How Dexia Will it cost in total to the CDC? Do you have any regrets about the management of this file?

The Taking-is not coming. Dexia maintains a value, and I will not speculate on his future today. Regarding the past, even if mistakes were made, I refuse to take the easy way of anachronism, to rewrite the history of Dexia before his first save of 2008. And I assume, for having sustained the strategy? CARRYING since.

You were a candidate for a second term. How did you feel the decision of Nicolas Sarkozy not to renew?

Probably because I am attached to this institution, I felt this moment with surprising emotion, as I had convinced myself that I did not own my post. The decision, I always say, is the President of the Republic. So I did not comment on it. I leave calm, and proud of the work.

CEO of the Caisse des Depots is a political post?

Yes, of course! In the best sense. The policy, it is the duty of the synthesis of opposing views in search of general interest. It is also the action. At the Deposit, which combine the financial strength, the diversity of stakeholders and quality of staff, the task is exhilarating.

Are you running for the leadership of CNP Assurances?

I have personally expressed to each member of the Appointments Committee.

As a director of Veolia Environnement, were you in favor of the appointment of Jean-Louis Borloo at the head of this business? Have you supported the approach of Proglio who also chairs the Nominating Committee of NPC?

I resigned from the Board of Veolia on February 29. The suspicion that some sort of Faustian pact with Proglio is unfounded and insulting to him and for me.

What recommendation would you give to your successor?

Research of general interest means being responsive to all stakeholders of the company, the actors of the social economy to the leaders of the CAC 40, the elected leaders of rural communities to SWFs the planet, it should be remembered that they manage resources to invest in our country.

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