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The agenda is filled Francois Hollande. Two weeks after his election to the French Presidency, and one week after taking office, the new head of state will visit on May 23, at an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders to discuss ways to boost growth in Europe without ceasing to fight against public deficits and debt. A date has been announced on Twitter by the President of the European Union, Herman Van Rompuy.

Wednesday, May 23, Will Be the date of our informal dinner of Heads of State or Government. # EUCO

– Herman Van Rompuy (@ euHvR) May 8, 2012

This dinner will prepare the EU summit on 28 and 29 June next, and open the outline of a debate on growth, crediting the message supported by Francois Hollande during his presidential campaign of saying that the austerity alone can not get out the Europe of the crisis. According to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, "many proposals (Commission) are on the table and waiting for the green light from Member States and Parliament. While the return to growth will take time, we could reach a turning point at the end of the year if the right decisions are taken now. "

Growth, yes, but how?

Because the situation is serious in Europe no faxing pay day loans. The Greek political earthquake this weekend shook the whole euro-zone. The spectrum of an output of Athens in the euro area returns and fears of a precedent is being felt. For bankruptcy and return to the drachma could then contaminate Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Italy and France. In Spain, the situation is alarming. And France, the passage of the political right to left removes an ally to Germany. Francois Hollande and his socialist political concern in the midst of crisis.

Europe, which as a whole is obviously to revive its growth, however, is not yet agreement on how to get there. For Francois Hollande, we must create Eurobonds. No question, the German chancellor. French side, advocates strengthening the European investment bank to support major projects. Okay, they reply the Rhine. However, it remains unthinkable for Angela Merkel to touch the Treaty nor the EU fiscal role of the ECB. Negotiations are open.

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The Spanish crisis is serious, very serious. It weakens a little more of Europe, its growth and financial system. But, unlike Greece, Spain will not "explode" the euro. Person, even among the fiercest opponents of the single currency is considering an exit from Spain in the euro area. Spain, despite record unemployment, is not on the verge of bankruptcy. Its lending rate to ten years amounted to 5.86% Friday, but they have been higher: 6% mid-April, and 7% in November.

A priori, Spain will not need a bailout General as Greece or Portugal. The Standard & Poor's recognizes itself: the Spanish Treasury has already covered 50% of its funding this year. The country should have no problem to repay its creditors in 2012.

Famine budget!

However, Spanish banks are on the ropes. Savings banks are not the only ones being targeted. There is nothing surprising about that. Unemployment makes mortgage repayments more difficult, weakening bank balance sheets. Massive purchases of Spanish debt by financial institutions of the peninsula, with funds loaned by the European Central Bank (ECB), are not a panacea, far from it, especially if tensions persist in the bond markets.

At this point, the recapitalization needs of the Spanish banking sector are estimated at 50 billion euros: a sum equivalent to half of the Spanish public deficit in 2011. In other words, beyond the reach of government in these times of fiscal scarcity!

But not beyond the reach of the euro zone! The central bankers of Europe, Mario Draghi and Jean-Claude Juncker planchent discreetly on a bailout of Spanish banks able to calm the markets. It would involve the European Stability Fund (EFSF), or the European Stability Mechanism (MES), its successor from 1 July.

Since the alert on the Italian debt last summer, the euro area has assured his rear. It has a "firewall" of 750 billion euros due to cumulative lending capacity of two European rescue fund, the EFSF and MES. For its part, the IMF has increased its resources to $ 430 billion. As for the ECB, it has already injected € 1,000 billion in the banking system, and nothing prevents him to continue

.

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Lactalis and its milk producers finally bury the hatchet. After several months of tensions, the global dairy products (Lactel, President, Galbani) reached an agreement Monday with representatives of its 14,500 producers, who collect five billion liters of milk. It took the intervention of the Ombudsman for agricultural trade relations as they agree to contracts that govern their trade relations now. Several calls to order the Minister of Agriculture have also been required to bend Lactalis. Among its competitors, including Bongrain or Danone, contracts have already been cordoned off.

The stakes are high. This is to prepare the end of milk quotas by 2015. Contracting business relationships between manufacturers and milk producers has been decided by the law of modernization of agriculture. Until then, these relationships worked on oral agreements, valid from generation to generation, and producers were paid on a monthly basis.

Reorganization of the sector

After several meetings, Lactalis and its producers have agreed on an "operating agreement". The Laval group is pleased to have offered "one of (the contract) most successful of the profession." It mainly offers "free transferability of the contract", the "no-monthly-payment imposed deliveries and settlement of supplies of milk in two monthly installments."

Especially, Lactalis has water in his wine, because the group now recognizes organizations (POs) as partners in the negotiations low fee payday loans. So far, the group wanted Laval to negotiate individually with producers, who feared an unfavorable balance of power.

A decree endorsing the creation of these organizations should be published shortly. OP local and regional associations of POs could coexist. Meanwhile, we must "work structuring" of these future producer organizations, Franck believes Guehennec, coordinator of the producer group Lactalis. "This is what one looks forward," he added.

Producers may elect by April 30 whether to integrate the OP. Still, many discussions always take place at industry level, such as on indicators for each company to fix the price of milk.

The agreement between Lactalis and its producers comes at a time of profound change in the sector, phase concentration, particularly in cooperatives. The number of farms (75,000 in total in France) is expected to decline over the coming years. Experts estimate that between 4,000 and 5,000 farms are disappearing each year as part of alliances, dispositions or retirements. These movements should also allow the emergence of true French champions.

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A rating agency on three, Standard & Poor's, has already withdrawn its prestigious Aaa to France. One of its competitors, Moody's, could soon follow, warned the Socialist candidate for president Francois Hollande. In the days following the presidential election.

Moody's placed under the supervision of the French debt rating earlier this year, he said in an interview with Journal du Dimanche. It "will make a decision on May 12, he argued. It will not be a consequence of the May 6 vote of the French. I warn, already, for our fellow citizens that there is no confusion (…) For now, I ask in any case to be assessed by the French and not by markets. "  

How the candidate can know the date on which the decision will fall on Moody's France? Rating agencies maintain absolute secrecy about the content of their deliberations and their timing, until the publication of their decision. To predict the date of May 12, the candidate is based on the deadline set by the agency between his warning to the country concerned and the actual announcement.

Moody's placed the rating a negative outlook on Feb. 14. It can give its verdict – probably too negative for AAA French – in May. However, it would have a year to decide. "She may wait to see what measures are being implemented by the future president, for example until fall, when the budget for 2013 will be presented," qualifies Norbert Gaillard, specialist rating agencies.  

Clearing the ground

Francois Hollande tried to clear the ground, should he be elected, and while his main opponent, Nicolas Sarkozy, waved the threat of an attack against France markets where Socialist victory. Today, has defended the PS candidate, turbulence affecting Spain and Italy but not France. "It is particularly irresponsible for the incumbent to use the threat of speculative movements to persuade voters to abandon the alternation," he pleaded.

The first week of the next president, whoever he is, ahead eventful. First Moody's should actually decide before May 15 the fate of Aaa it attributed to France so far. Then the Commission will publish its opinion on the stability program of France. This document, sent to Brussels last week, details how the government intends to restore the balance of public finances by 2016. Problem: it takes into account neither the promises of the outgoing president, nor those of his socialist opponent.

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This contrasts with forecasts of real estate agencies. While Century 21 provides a stable property prices this year, Standard & Poor's anticipates a price decline of 15% by 2013. The demonstration of the rating agency is rigorous: in France, when borrowing capacity decrease, property prices nosedive. Between September 2007 and March 2009, borrowing capacity have receded by 7%, with the key to lower prices by 10% between March 2008 and June 2009. "In the next eighteen months, we expect a drop in borrowing capacity of the same magnitude, we read in the S & P memorandum, published yesterday. And also in 2012 we anticipate a 20% reduction in the number of home loans. "

That's why the rating agency predicted a price decline of 15%. To support his argument, it gives some examples of the greatest requirement of banks' property loans. By July 2011, the average credit was increased to 211 months (17 years and a half) against 237 months (almost 20 years) in March. As the number of credits, he has already plunged 40% last February. Another indicator that calls for a decline in prices: the real purchasing power is likely to decline in France, according to Standard & Poor's, in the first half, inflation would reach 1.3%, while disposable income would increase only 1% and would not know of developments in the second half. As for interest rates, they could rise to 5% by the end of the year, against 4.7% on average in December. Plausible macroeconomic data that fail to address one element highlighted by estate agents, psychological aspects related to buying a home. The coming months will tell if reason prevailed over passion, if S & P has better sensors that real estate professionals

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What companies are doing to manage the "assholes" rotting the lives of other employees? They have their eyes on their economic performance, they advocate the dynamism and innovation to develop, but they show very little "attentive to these toxic personalities", who happen to be an unnecessary cost but very real for their s Finance boxes?

Deliberately provocative, "Target Zero asshole," the book by Robert Sutton, professor of management at Stanford, in any case a fixed cap at which leaders would be wise to look at things in front. "The assholes are costs that do not appear in cost accounting, but take stock of their damage is not so difficult," he says.

Robert Sutton, it is urgent to act because "they swarm." "All companies should adopt the Target Zero asshole because these people inflict considerable damage to their direct victims, organizational performance, but also to themselves." Increased stress and risk of heart attack among those who are victims, increased absenteeism and surge in turnover. Professor Stanford has even delivered a calculation of what costs such as employees at a company: it comes to adding a "for asshole" of $ 160,000 per year!

But what to do to achieve this "Goal Zero asshole"? Here are five recipes by Robert Sutton.

• Choose the right people. Assuming that "hire other assholes assholes," Robert Sutron, suggests that they deviate from the recruitment process or to involve also "civilized people".

• Identify employees pourrisseurs room and spend their time bully and harass others. To achieve Robert Sutton has listed what he called "their twelve nasties" daily. There are pell-mell "personal insults", "threats or intimidation," "humiliation or public reprimands," "hypocritical attacks" ….

• Limit their power to harm. For example by reducing the hierarchical boundaries or too large wage differentials that give them a sense of power and feel like superstars.

• Protect yourself. "The best and safest way is to keep you as far as possible from people and places contaminated by the virus," writes Robert Sutton. If this is impossible, since it's boss that he is only one solution: change the box.

• Be careful not to become "asshole" self. Robert Sutton, we are all "assholes" in power. Then you try not to treat colleagues as competitors and build instead a "win-win exchanges at work."

Obviously the method advocated by Robert Sutton has found its audience. Published for the first time in the United States in 2007, he has sold over 475,000 copies (all languages). It has just been reissued, proof that there is still work to overcome the assholes at the office.

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Unicredit closed Tuesday, piteously, the ball of the annual results of European banks. As expected, the first Italian establishment has suffered a massive loss of over € 9 billion. After years of too-rapid expansion, the bank decided to move his record to steel wool, to "have no surprises in the future," according to Director General, Federico Ghizzoni. This momentary dip of Unicredit in the shallows of the European ranking – the institution displays the worst performance of the sector just after Dexia – illustrates the new hierarchy of banks.

2011 will remain above all marked by the sharp inflection, from the summer, the crisis in the euro area. Institutions of the countries attacked – Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Greece of course – all bear the scars. They charged a double shock: degradation of their national sovereign debt and recession in their economies against the backdrop of austerity. In this grim context, the first two Spanish banks, Santander and BBVA, have their own in the game With their exposure to emerging markets, they show profits down "only" 35% to 5.4 billion and 3 billion euros, despite a national real estate market devastated.

The challenge of regulation

Second great lesson of the banking hierarchy 2011: the resistance of so-called universal institutions, which rely on local networks, possibly spread over several countries, and financing activities and investment. The success of British giant HSBC and Standard Chartered, whose results have respectively increased by 28% and 12% in one year, illustrates this situation. The resilience of the French BNP Paribas, proud of its profit more than 6 billion euros and its three major European networks, is another variation. Conversely, the Swiss UBS and Credit Suisse, highly dependent on performance of their teams of traders and bankers, driving out of this year huge market turmoil. Their profits were down 44% and 62%.

The challenge of regulation

Deutsche Bank is a notable exception: despite its similar profile, the champion Frankfurt has completed a very successful year. Up 86% year on year, the result exceeds 4 billion euros. Market valuations of the front runners as broadly these capabilities beneficiaries. HSBC leads the pack with a value of 122 billion euros, while Santander, BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank weigh respectively 58, 45 and 36 billion in stock.

If Dexia puts the finishing touch of color to the landscape reshaped by the financial crisis. The little French-Belgian bank, run contrary to common sense for years, has lost 11.6 billion euros in 2011. A disaster that financial regulators do not want to hear. To guard against this, they launched a vast banks race to the recapitalization, which will mobilize the entire sector in 2012.

"Reconciling candidates and companies …" This is the purpose of the First Assembly of recruitment has organized last week Syntec recruitment consultancy. Dehumanization of the hiring process, operation of private data via social networks, growing constraints imposed by government on behalf of diversity … Executives, HR recruiters and exchanged ideas on these topics. "From these discussions will come from a series of forthcoming proposals," promised John Paul Brette, union president and CEO of Hudson.

The "CV citizen" will surely in part. Jointly launched in January by Syntec recruitment consultancy and association Odissée, this CV adds value to the charitable commitments, humanitarian, outside work. A student doing the tutoring, a mother president of an association of parents, a key company invested in a think-tank

. First act of management

"This kind of commitment can develop transferable skills in the workplace. The job applicants are not sufficiently aware of the highlighting. And recruiters do not always have the key for identifying, "says union president, who is engaged in promoting the CV to its members 140 firms. The National Association of HRD (ANDRH), building on its 5000 members, also supports this project. "Many HR will find a way to enrich their work," said Charlotte Duda, its president.

"Taking into account all the skills can promote diversity," says his side John Paul Brette. He sees this new resume an alternative to anonymous CV he calls a "false good idea". "It is certainly not the appropriate response to the issue of diversity," said he pay day advance. For diversity, focus and ultramédiatique recruitment, is not without a few questions … Affirmative Syntec is it not a form of discrimination? Firmly convinced that "the most diverse companies are more efficient," John Paul Brette regrets the "paradoxical injunctions issued by public authorities." "Positive discrimination on young people, over 55, women … It is too!" He summarizes.

The CV citizen is also a way to fight against the dehumanization of the hiring process, another great battle cry of union. "Over the past decade, much has been said process, cost, supply chain, up to outsource recruitment via hubs abroad. We forgot to talk about men, "is moved to the union president, referring to the computerized sorting of resumes by keywords.

Faced with this disembodiment, he recalls that "Recruitment is the first act of management." In 2011, the 140 member firms of the organization have done for their client companies hiring 22,000 frames – against 20,000 the previous year. A digit to be reported to the 180,000 hiring managers surveyed last year by Apec. "We cover the entire recruitment process, from defining the business need to integrate the new employee," he says.

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Then prices will drop? In this ritual question about real estate professionals meet today with a little yes. Certainly not a solid yes, frankly, but yes a little, and that is something. Even in the Ile-de-France and Paris, the traditional stronghold of the rise, things are changing. "In 2012, prices should fall by about 5 to 10% in the Ile-de-France," say solicitors. "We expect a relatively sharp decline in activity this year, about 20%, but a decline of more than 5% of prices in France," ahead of his side Pallincourt Rene, President of Fnaim, who is about to give up his siège.Au beyond the delicate exercise of global forecasting, rather symbolic as the evolution of prices can vary depending on the asset markets, all professionals describe the same picture, that of a market slows down, where transactions are less easily. But none ventured to compare the situation to that of 2008. "At that point, everything had stopped, said Sebastien de Lafond, President Meilleursagents.com. This is not the case today, the market remains fluid, even if transaction times are getting longer low fee payday advance. "What has changed in six months? Much and little at a time. Laurent Vimont, president of Century 21, says "a sharp contraction in sales, including in Paris." The slowdown is real: last year, with about 850,000 sales in the former, was a record. This year, professionals expect between 700,000 and 740,000 sales only. "We lost buyers since last July. The apartments and houses that have a default and are too expensive are the same most visited, "said Sebastien de Lafond. "What is new is that Paris is affected by volume, whereas it was the last market to be in 2008," said Mr. Bazaille, president of the Institute for Notarial real estate. The sluggish housing market is not good news for local authorities and public finances. And the change in taxation of capital gains might not make the tax revenue espérées.Finies, flights, quarter after quarter.

"More than at any price"

appetite for stone is real. Credits: Jean-Michel Turpin / Fedephoto