Faced with the crisis, employers are reducing their training budgets, but at the same time, feel they do not have the skills necessary for their development. They evoke a strong "talent shortage". This paradox is largely promoted by the 10th European Business Summit 2012, held this Thursday 26 April by the Federation of Belgian Enterprises (FEB) – equivalent of the MEDEF and the giant-board, Accenture.

A survey by Accenture and presented during the Forum is a measure of the problem (*). Over the last 12 months, 86% of European employers surveyed reduced or froze their spending on training and skills development. The greatest restrictions affecting Italy (93%), Spain (90%) and Britain (90%). But no country is characterized by the implementation of important ways. France is about average (85%) and Germany is slightly less severe (71%).

In the next 12 months, no change announcement: only 18% of employers plan to increase spending.

Yet at the same time, 43% of them recognize that they are facing a talent shortage. Better, 72% say they have revised upwards their investments

.

"It's the crisis, companies are reducing the wing," says Fernand Dimidschstein, responsible for the activity management consultancy Accenture France Benelux. "We must reinvest in training! Because without training, there is no skill, and no innovation, "he insists. The EU summit is organized to raise consciousness. "

"The withdrawal is a database error"

Restrictions to the paradox of training budgets is also the issue of "untapped talent pools" in Europe: 23 million people unemployed, plus a non-working population, wants to work but faces many obstacles, ie 15 million seniors, and young mothers face the same struggle.

"Companies do not know their talents, both internally and externally," says Fernand Dimidschstein.

Based on these observations and responses of respondents, the study makes recommendations to employers and politicians. It invites the first to "invest in collecting and analyzing data to draw the profiles of talent" and work together on networks. "German companies have an ability to hunt in packs, which is not the case in the rest of Europe," said Fernand Dimidschstein.

Policy makers, the study suggests more support for schools and businesses partnerships to bond market needs. It also calls for increased harmonization of diplomas in the European area. The Bologna Declaration had laid the groundwork in 1999, "but too many students still spend equivalencies," says Fernand Dimidschstein. "It would also simplify the legislation to attract international talent in Europe and encourage them to settle there," he continues talking about an "intelligent immigration". "The withdrawal is a database error," he concludes.

(*) Study "Turning the Tide: how Europe rebuild skills and generate Cdn Growth", conducted in February 2012 among 500 decision makers at the head of business administration and civil society organizations.

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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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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. "

"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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New twist in the saga Free Mobile, which runs the telecom sector since January. Orange has threatened Saturday to suspend the contract that binds him to Free Mobile. Such a decision will have serious consequences for clients of Free Mobile since this agreement, said roaming allows subscribers of the new operator to go through the Orange network where there would be no network available Free.

What has bitten Orange? For this contract, Stéphane Richard, CEO of Orange, was repeatedly congratulated for having signed the beard of SFR and Bouygues him should yield about 1.5 billion euros. Two reasons for this reaction. First, Orange is concerned about the various failures occurred on the network of Free Mobile recently and wants to protect its own customers. "Orange reaffirms that it can, and will not hesitate to suspend the contract if the roaming network incidents Free Mobile would affect the quality of service to Orange customers," said a door- word of Orange.

Second, Orange believes they have been challenged by the regulator. "Contrary to some claims to Orange failures occurred on the network of Free Mobile in recent days, the group accepts no responsibility for these failures," added the spokesman of Orange. Saturday, in an interview with Le Figaro, Jean-Ludovic Silicani, president of Telecom Regulatory Authority, stated that "both sides have underestimated both the number of subscribers and the amount of traffic through the Orange network. "

Questioned, Free does not wish to comment. Arrived with a crash in January on the market of mobile telephony, the operator led by Xavier Niel now has nearly 2.2 million subscribers.

Poker game

This estimate comes from its competitor Bouygues Telecom as to the presentation of its quarterly results, Free Mobile maintains the mystery of this figure strategically. In mid-February, Orange admitted to have lost 201,000 subscribers, SFR and Bouygues Telecom 200 000 134 000. The irruption of Free Mobile phone on the board, with very aggressive prices, the market has completely changed into the headquarters of groups (see below). Its competitors were forced to revise their prices downwards. Bouygues Telecom is the company to provide rate reductions of up to 40%.

Finally, in the incredible poker game that is played between players, the latest statements of Orange do they represent a real threat or a bluff? For how could the contract that would, they say, has been negotiated foot foot for forty-five days, did not foresee all situations, especially breakdowns? Besides his denunciation would have a significant cost to Orange.

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Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphic.

• Transfer taxes: 3.8 billion per year

Transfer taxes, a tax paid by households when buying their homes, would be halved in case of acquisition of the principal residence. According to the institute, this measure will generate a shortfall of 3.8 billion for counties and municipalities which are the current beneficiaries of the transfer taxes. It points to the difficulty of measurement (as distinguished primary residence and secondary). The entourage of Nicolas Sarkozy him figure the gross cost of the measure between 2.5 and 3 billion.

• Parental leave: 2.2 to 4,400,000,000 per year

The UMP candidate wants to relax parental leave. Its duration would remain up to three years, but it could be taken up until 18 years of the child, and not until he was 3. The cost of the measure is high but the range projected by the Institute of the company is large, the challenge is to anticipate changes in behavior: how many parents of children aged 3 to 18, with no " exhausted "their three years of parental leave, they will benefit from this new opportunity that will be offered.

• Unemployed older: 500 to 900 million annually

Nicolas Sarkozy promised the abolition of fees for hiring seniors in long-CDD or CDI of an unemployed person over 55 years, indefinitely. The encryption is based on an assumption of 35,000 beneficiaries per year (the team UMP is 50,000 to 60,000) and a reduced for 400 to 700 euros per month (higher than that chosen by the candidate's entourage).

• Contributions of craftsmen: 250 to 425 million

A craftsman is making any profit in the year 1700 euros to a demand of social contributions. The outgoing president wants to eliminate this floor to stick strictly to contributions proportional to income that is paid. The Enterprise Institute calculates a cost of between 250 million (corresponding to figure put forward by the applicant) and 425 million.

• Biometric Carte Vitale: 54 to 81 million euros per year

So far, the photo used on maps Vitale is simply sent by post. The additional cost, estimated at 15 euros per card, come from the need for staff to receive insured on site – in town halls, for example – check their identity and make their prints. It does not include a grant to the hundreds of thousands of health professionals so that they equip themselves with fingerprint readers (around 100 euros per enclosure).

• CIR: zero cost

Rather than being repaid after two years by the tax authorities, the research tax credit (CIR) would receive an advance by OSEO as a zero-interest loan "for small businesses that innovate ". An operation to "zero cost at cruising speed."

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Olympus is preparing to renew its leadership. The group of optical and medical imaging, the center of a scandal hidden losses, said Monday it has chosen children of the seraglio to compose his future Board. The group is now led by Hiroyuki Sasa, now in charge of marketing.

Olympus has also promised to appoint six outside directors (most already linked to the group) of the eleven new members to its board of directors to be presented for approval at a special meeting of shareholders on April 20.

A scandal of hidden losses of $ 1.5 billion spread over thirteen years to put down the reputation of Olympus. Last summer, the group managing director, Michael Woodford, was curtly thanked by its board of directors after requiring clarification of accounting anomalies revealed in the press.

Since then, the president "historic" Olympus and six executives were arrested. In a country where a charge often means a conviction (almost all of the defendants are convicted in Japan), these arrests have cast doubt on the sustainability of the group in its current form.

Exit the ambiguity

Too broke out, could be sold by Olympus divisions to another industry. Its medical imaging division in particular displayed an insolent financial health despite a fiscal year 2011-2012 which looks disastrous for society (200 billion yen loss forecast for the year which will end in late March). Sony has already shown particular interest in the activities of Olympus.

Meanwhile, the current management group, on borrowed time until April 20, closely linked to the ousted president, trying with difficulty to break the ambiguity. The next president is chosen as Olympus just SMBC, the bank group, so its main creditor, who has covered, probably by laxity, all of its accounting maquillables.

"It is not desirable that the president comes from SMBC", pleaded last week the U.S. fund Southeastern Asset Management, which owns 5% of Olympus. Wasted. To date, most members of the board are being sued … by Olympus.

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Lefigaro.fr is the first news site in France in January. The study Médiamétrie / NetRatings, it was viewed by over 8.8 million unique visitors a month. A hearing is always the historic site of Figaro to a million users of the follower.

Development, the second place, occupied by Orange in December, was conquered by the Nouvel Observateur. High of 7.7 million unique monthly visitors, the site of the weekly benefits from the integration of "pure player" Rue89, bought in December.

Launched in late January, the site of the Huffington Post has also brought new visitors to the World, which brought together a total of 7.3 million Internet users in January. The web offers daily evening was nevertheless made the steal third place from the site of Le Parisien / Today in France, with nearly 7.5 million unique visitors.

January has generally drawn the hearings of the press line up. Portals and aggregators of articles edited by tech giants have, themselves, not take advantage of the French appetite for news. Orange News was relegated to sixth place in the ranking with 6.7 million unique visitors, Yahoo! News is eighth with 5.4 million visitors, MSN News and Google News are respectively the 11th and 13th.

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Saturday accused by Marine Le Pen to slaughter according to halal "all meat" distributed in the Ile-de-France, industrialists defend themselves. President of the National Association of interprofessional Livestock and Meat (Interbev), interviewed by France Info, the judge charged the president of the National Front "absolutely false".

"In the Ile-de-France, a vast majority of meat is not slaughtered according to halal or kosher," which involves killing animals without stunning, ensures Dominique Langlois. "It may be that parts or pieces of meat from carcasses are slaughtered according to these rites, but that does not change the quality of meat and it does not change at all the qualities of the product," adds Will it.

For professionals in the meat, the charge of Marine Le Pen "is meant strictly political and did not match the reality of things." "It's a debate that can only be detrimental to both the meat industry to French and French production that does not need it," warned the president of Interbev.

The animal rights groups mobilized

This debate is not new. Last year, six associations have denounced the increasing proportion of animals slaughtered according to Jewish or Muslim rites. According to the Foundation Brigitte Bardot, who had made an investigation in slaughterhouses, more than 60% of sheep and goats, 28% of adult cattle and 43% of calves were then killed without stunning, but that consumers are warned.

In France, however, requires the slaughter, since a decree of 1964, the stunning of animals before killing, thereby mitigating their suffering. But European legislation provides an exemption, "when stunning is not compatible with the ritual prescriptions under the free exercise of religion same day payday loans."

Approval before waive stunning

Two bills were filed in late 2010, the Senate to the Assembly, without success, to obtain a specific labeling of meat slaughtered without stunning. "The consumer has the right to know what he eats. He has the right not to eat meat slaughtered in a ritual which does not believe him, "argued the UMP deputy Nicolas Dhuicq. A new amendment, introduced in September 2011, was also rejected.

On 29 December, a decree was published in the Official Journal, however, requiring 275 French slaughterhouses to obtain, on or after 1 July 2012, before an official authorization from the rule of stunning. "It does [may] be granted only to slaughterhouses in favor [...] of a registration system to verify that it is used to slaughter without stunning as a result of justifying the commercial orders, "said the Ministry of Culture.

Marine Le Pen wants to complain

The animal rights groups have expressed quite satisfied with this text. "Being able to justify a ritual slaughter is a specific order is important because, currently, most of the meat of this kind of slaughter is found in conventional circuits without any indication to consumers," recalled Christophe Marie, spokeswoman Brigitte Bardot Foundation.

Marine Le Pen was not in favor waiting for the entry into force of the decree. On the sidelines of the convention of his party, being held this weekend in Lille, it announced its intention to attack "a few major retail supermarkets in Ile-de-France for misrepresentation of the product." She said wanting to file a complaint with a civil order for a judge to be seized, which could lead to an investigation of several months.

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