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The energy figures prominently in the official menu of the European summit on Wednesday. More reason to make its voice heard: this is the strategy followed by all the major energy of the Old Continent (E.ON1, GDF Suez2 Enel …) which, once will not hurt, will advance to grouped part of their claims to the Commission.

Their message is clear: the security of energy supply in Europe is in danger. They call with Brussels. The causes of this crisis are legion: drastic drop in investment in major infrastructure projects, the lack of a clear regulatory framework, while the relative weight of a common energy policy … "In short, a lack of visibility patent even though these giants to operate effectively, require a number of signals they are not today, "said an industry expert.

These giants are even more tense they are faced with a series of recurring difficulties: their share price is at a low point, their debt has exceeded acceptable limits to investors – forcing them to close programs asset sales – and their industrial tool is put to the test: several production plants either closed or are mothballed for lack of sufficient profitability. 

In the latter case, it is most often combined cycle gas plants (CGG), victims of the development of gas schiste3 in North America. Not only the gas is now four times cheaper overseas in Europe, but the strength of this new resource, the United States can export massive amounts of coal. These are used to power plants for electricity production in Europe at much more competitive than gas for CGG, forced out of business prices.

Open shale gas door

"The result should taste the paradox, a country like Germany has never been so turned its coal while supporting high dose renouvelables4 its energy industry," said an executive from a European company. Do not believe the accelerated development of green energy gathers widespread agreement: the thermal (gas or coal) are necessary to compensate for the intermittency of solar and wind power. However, in Germany, production of renewable has reached such a volume that investing in classic, essential but expensive to build power plants, is no longer profitable make quick cash. Deadlock with worry all electric and gas companies.

In this week sent to the Commission in writing and oral message, these companies will demand careful monitoring of energy financing: these include ensuring that the subsidy system for renewable energy creates no distortion competition from one country to another. Industry giants also want the carbon market, including emissions trading, more readable, less expensive and more efficient. Finally, they want are encouraged investment in the means of production can meet the peak demand.

In addition to these major issues, and it is not the slightest difficulty, each country tries to move on its own sites. In Germany, the development of networks to connect the north and east of the country, where it produces wind and solar, south and west, where are the largest and most energy-intensive industries, is critical to the success of the energy transition: the country has decided to stop by 2022 all German nuclear power plants and increase the share of renewable energy to 40%.

According to the plan of the federal government, 4000 kilometers of lines must be optimized and 1,700 km of electric "highways" to be built by 2022. Berlin wants to share with its European neighbors the cost of developing networks for the transport of renewable energy on the continent.

Moreover, Germany is changing in favor of the exploitation of gas schiste5 to contribute to security of supply and stability of energy prices. Chancellor Angela Merkel6 should note with satisfaction that the European Commission, in its préconclusions the summit on Wednesday, talks for the first time, the possibility of using "more systematically" to energy sources 'native', a word code of Brussels to discuss shale gas.

If it is nowhere mentioned that we should explore the potential of shale gas in member countries – a taboo in France – is a door ajar in Brussels. Will add a new subject of controversy in the complex landscape of energy developments.

This is the boost that we did not see it coming in the recovery plan presented Thursday to the building Alfortville by François Hollande. Low-income households whose income does not exceed € 35,000 annual net can receive assistance from 1350 euros to better insulate their homes. An open for two years, from April until mid-2015. This bonus will be financed by drawing 500 million appropriations for future investment program initiated with the large loan.

For the rest, almost everything was already known. Attempt to stop the bleeding of jobs in the building and build 500,000 homes per year not to mention the energy renovation of 500,000 apartments or houses old François Hollande will play on two levers: a boost fiscal first. "The rate of VAT on social housing will be lowered to 5%, said the president. This measure will apply to all deliveries will take place from 1 January 2014. "Clearly, the operations already launched today. The government expects that it will build 22,500 additional social housing per year. This measure relates to the construction but also the social housing renovation cost 660 million to the state.

Other additional expenses even if the amount is not yet known: "We are going to define an appropriate tax return for institutional investors in housing," said the president. To initiate movement, CDC (Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations) will launch the construction of 10,000 housing intermediate this year. In contrast, the reduction in VAT to 5% for energy renovation, expected by professionals, is not on the agenda. For reasons of budgetary rigor.

Orders this summer

All other actions will not cost a penny. Their goal? Build faster. For example by hunting against abusive use building permits or suspending for two years the standards for construction. Two patients treated with orders issued this summer. Other tracks followed by the government: to promote the conversion of offices into housing or help build earlier in the tense areas. Solutions in his time the Fillon government had also planned.

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A group of French business leaders based in the United Kingdom calls on France to learn from the British example by focusing on labor migration in relation to family immigration, in a study published Wednesday that also wants to promote diversity in the company. "Over the past decade," writes the Circle of the Channel, which defines itself as a "reflection group (which) aim to highlight the best practices of both countries."

If "France and the United Kingdom have higher immigrant population very similar", however the reasons to settle in these countries are not the same, is the study, based on official data. Immigrants in France are primarily motivated by family reasons (44%) and business (25%) while in the United Kingdom, professional reasons (34%) take precedence over family reasons (13%), as it .

The lack of strategy deplored

"When we look at the flow of immigration, we see that France is now home to about two times less skilled immigrants as the United Kingdom and three times less than Germany," said the study, which proposes to "prioritize immigration work and make more stringent criteria for family reunification." The authors lament the absence in France of "clear strategy of selective immigration", recalling the failure of the "residence skills and talents", created by Nicolas Sarkozy and the "excesses of immigration policy safe "embodied in the circular on foreign students Gueant, repealed in June.

They also believe that France, third world destination for foreign students after the United States and the United Kingdom, must "promote the economic and entrepreneurial courses to foreign students." They follow mainly in France studying humanities and social sciences.

The work under the direction of the President of the French Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain, Arnaud Vaissié, finds that companies are not sufficiently heard in the French debate on immigration, "willingly ideological" between "ins a moral idealism "and" supporters of repressive policies. " In the preface to this study, Hamid Senni, founder of a diversity consulting firm in London where he was an expatriate, said the concept is much more valued companies in the UK and France.

The book makes proposals to promote this diversity, in particular to include this criterion in the social balance sheet of companies with more than 250 employees, and "flexible labor law" to "reduce risk taking a new hiring and promoting recruitment and atypical. "

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Fruit of six years of research, encapsulation is the specialty of Capsum, a start-up Marseille. The process involves trapping of active ingredients in a drop of oil, itself surrounded by a drop of water, all trapped in a thin membrane. The result is translucent beads measuring between 0.01 mm and 3 mm and can be colored according to the wishes of customers.

Sébastien Bardon, a former Saint-Gobain, has been seduced by the wide scope of this breakthrough technology, the culmination of six years of joint research laboratories of the School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry (ESPCI ParisTech) and the American University of Harvard.

"The fields of application range from cosmetics to food, to pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Today, we focus on cosmetics but we will also start in the food industry this year, "commented Sébastien Bardon. It is associated with two specialists microfluidics, Bibette and David Weitz, respectively professors ESPCI ParisTech and Harvard, with whom the technological process and production machines are developed. 25 patents are filed. "Our innovation reinvents care product. Our bet is that he is not a white cream or gel. "

5-10 launches in 2013

Capsum already has two clients, La Prairie (Switzerland) and Amore Pacific, the "L'Oréal Korean." With La Prairie, Capsum developed serum Skin Caviar, consisting of beads containing extracts of caviar sold in recent months. "We give more reasons to be a luxury in this new aesthetic but also the preservation of active ingredients," says Sébastien Bardon, who expects 5-10 launches in 2013.

He also hopes to win by the end of the year with its scent of perfume without alcohol, including a light gel beads containing sensitive species and dazzling when you spray perfume. He worked with Givaudan, one of the world leaders in the flavor industry and perfume.

Sébastien Bardon and his associates are also investigating cosmetics and others for food. Founded in late 2008, Capsum achieved a turnover of 2.2 million euros in 2012. Bardon expects a growth of 50% per year over the next five years.

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The agreement to limit excess fees doctors will finally be implemented on the ground, but it has never attracted much opposition. Since its signing in October, two of the three doctors' unions have initialed the text have changed sides. And especially CSMF, the largest, which claims to be "into resistance" since Medicare has changed the text it validated "machine sanctions" in the definition of its implementing rules.

At the center of the problem, 150% intended to define an overflow considered abusive compared to Safely prices. The signatories felt that this ceiling should be a "landmark" and yet tempered by other criteria (location of the firm's reputation doctor …). But in the end, the 5% of physicians practicing overtaking the higher their department be questioned by the authorities.

If the interpretation of the agreement by Medicare seems much too harsh taste of doctors, it is not enough for patients. The Collective interassociative Health (CISS) denounces "a genuine license abuse" given to doctors. The influential association highlights including the famous 150% will be calculated an average "for an indefinite period." Clearly, physicians will continue to practice high levels of passing on part of their patient base (easiest) while exempting another.

A "bet" for additional

The plot thickens a bit more if we include the debate more than the opinion of some observers mixed, not least, in the industry business card templates. "We can share a doubt that there are many other sanctions and that sanctions if there are, they significantly reduce the overall level of overruns," criticizes Didier Tabuteau, Chair Health Sciences Po Paris. "Everything will depend on the application will be made by Medicare, agrees to share Brigitte Dormont, a health economist at the University of Paris-Dauphine. But the original text is not very dangerous for practitioners. Instead, it confirms that the excess fees up to 100% Safely prices are normal. "

The Economist refers in particular to the second part of the agreement on the contract for access to care. This will be offered from next week practitioners whose prices are less than or equal to 100% of the rate Safely. In exchange for reduced charges, the practitioner should moderate their prices, but it may break the contract after a year if not longer satisfied.

As for complementary health, they either do not believe that the agreement makes miracles. -They now call the "bet". It will actually wait until July to see if doctors adhere to contract for access to care. And even longer – six months or a year? – To see the first drop sanctions against doctors who "abuse".

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A device to replace the 75% tax on income in excess of one million euros, which was censored in December by the Constitutional Council, will be available "within a month maximum," has announced today 'Today the Prime Minister's entourage.

"It always works. Within a month we will have provided a device. " To the question whether the tax will be 75% well, entourage Prime Minister replied: "It will be what it'll be. We will not begin to list the devices, there are many. Imagination is the power, but the solutions must be legally sound. "

At the Élysée it was noted that 75% were "a symbol of the campaign. Everything will be done to put in place. The idea is not to move away. " In other words, the system used should not be a tax of 75%.

The "Elders" had rejected the election promise François Hollande on the grounds that the tax hit individuals and non-tax households.

These days, news reports, denied by both the Elysee Palace and the prime minister, was as a possible abandonment of the measure criticized by the employers.

"Within a month maximum we proposed a device," says a consultant who reiterated that this would apply in 2014 for 2013 revenue.

François Hollande said on January 7 that take into account the decision of the Constitutional Council but that the government would introduce "the time comes" a device incorporating the same objective, "in other ways." 

January 6, Europe 1, the budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac explained that the tax threshold could be lowered: "It may be part of the parameters," he said.

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This is a small revolution in the world of finance. Europe will finally set limits on credit rating agencies, which have long rain or shine on the financial markets. The three main agencies (Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch) representing 90% of the market, will now impose greater transparency and may be held accountable for their mistakes.

A large majority of MEPs (579 votes against 58, with 60 abstentions) has adopted the text presented Wednesday by the Italian Socialist Democrat Leonardo Domenici. Here's what to remember that these new rules will come into force this year, when the European Council has voted to turn the text.

• The transparency above all

Not always easy to understand rating system for these agencies. They have been asked to publish "research report" when issuing a sovereign rating. In the interests of transparency, this report must be "publicly accessible, clear and understandable," says the text voted.

• notations, but not anytime

Agencies can not issue more than three unsolicited ratings throughout the year. When marking States, they should do on dates fixed in advance. Thus, the assessments will be published on Friday, after the markets close in the EU and at least one hour before reopening. The text also states that voted "the rating agency credit institution shall inform the rated entity (…) so that it has the ability to report to the agency any factual errors."

• Agencies responsible now

Agencies must be vigilant before distributing their rating. In fact, they will now be civilly liable if they make mistakes. In other words, investors who feel aggrieved by the rating will sue the agency has violated the rules of this law. For example, if a conflict of interest in issuing a rating.

• Limiting the power of agencies

"In recent years, investors and states have become too dependent on rating agencies. On several occasions, their sudden announcements led to speculation harmful financial markets, exacerbating the crisis in the euro zone, "said Italian Socialist MEP Leonardo Domenici.

MEPs therefore encouraged investment firms and credit institutions to develop their own scoring system. The European Commission should also consider creating European assessments of creditworthiness, says the text.

• The hunt for conflicts of interest

The interests of the agencies in the rated entities will be capped. A shareholder holding 10% or more of the capital of an agency can not have 10% or more of the capital of the rated entity. In the same logic, a shareholder may hold shares of more than 5% in more than one credit reporting agency, unless these agencies belong to the same group.

Some say it was time to limit the omnipotence of these agencies. They have also been heavily criticized, notably for helping to trigger the financial crisis of 2008, giving the best financial rating (AAA) for impaired investments. Since, in a crisis of the euro area, their activity is often viewed with suspicion. Especially when they degrade the note of a country whose access to credit, as was the case in Greece, becomes much more difficult.

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A "clash" unpublished. In a statement sent Thursday evening, at the end of an interruption of four-hour session during which the employers' delegation tried to agree on a new version of the text, the UPA has indicated its opposition to the project agreement on the table of negotiations on employment.

For her, the measures proposed by the MEDEF and CGPME are simply 'pride to large companies at the expense of 98% of French companies that employ more than half of the employees. " See artisans including a dim Article 1 on a generalization of complementary health to all employees not covered by a collective agreement. "We seek to understand this clash of the UPA, which had yet validated the text," stated a spokesperson Medef early evening, not only without specifying negotiators MEDEF and CGPME "defend SMEs ".

A new article, explosive

While employers are enferrait in a psychodrama which no one can predict the outcome – we just know that the signing of the UPA is not necessary for an agreement to be valid by three unions – the employee representatives examined the new draft agreement which was submitted in late afternoon. MEDEF and CGPME deleted their proposal to create a permanent project and shortened by one year (2017 to 2016) the obligation for companies to offer complementary health to all their employees.

They do not always offered, however, at least at this time of negotiation, the taxation of short-term contracts, to the dismay of unions, which are always a prerequisite for a possible signature. Icing on the cake, MEDEF and CGPME introduced a new article, explosive, which creates a "order of dismissal" to "focus on professional competence" of employees in the event of social.

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Trade Minister, Sylvia Pinel, kicks-off on Wednesday balances in the new mall So West, Levallois-Perret, and not in department stores on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris, as was the tradition. Another change: the French have ever intend to turn to the Internet to find bargains. 60% of them sure that they buy on the web for winter sales, against 54% in 2012, according to a study by the Federation of e-commerce and distance selling (Fevad). 7% of them, it should even be the only vector shopping (5% in January 2012).

Rush stores should still take place. Two thirds of French (66%) say they intend to use this time off to do their shopping, according to a BVA poll for Les Echos, 5 points more than last year. "January 2013 should be a very good year in terms of amounts of expenditure for these balances," has said the pollster, who interviewed the 7th and 8th January 1230 by phone and internet people aged over 15 years. In fact, the price could be reduced from 60% to 70% in the early days.

The average budget spent by the French during these balances should also be the highest for three years with an average expenditure of 234 euros envisaged, against 221 euros in January 2012, says BVA. But inequalities between age groups are important because the 15-24 should spend less (175 euros 150 euros this year against last year) and 25-34 years whose budget balances increased from 234 to 228 euros. Conversely, the envelope of 35-49 years increased by 9 euros. Similarly, differences in income levels are increasing as those who earn less than 1,500 euros should tighten their belts. And men should spend more money balances than women (249 euros, against 223), according to the survey.

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its latest report "consultation" on France concludes that the unemployment rate could rise to 10.6% next year in France 10.3% against the year. The monetary institution, as part of its oversight of its member countries, has scrutinized the French economy. It expects only a 0.4% growth next year, against 0.2% for the full year ending.

IMF experts believe that the upturn in France is hampered by a loss of competitiveness "largely due to obstacles in the functioning of labor markets, goods and services."  

Greater competition in the service sector "would help reduce production costs and enhance the reform of the labor market," said the fund.

On the sensitive issue of reducing the share of GDP in the fiscal deficit to 3% next year, the IMF is skeptical: "Based on our growth prospects more conservative (than the government, Ed), the 2013 budget would result in a deficit of 3 payday loan no faxing.5% of GDP, "the report notes.

Many members of the Board of Directors of the IMF emphasized that adherence to the government's target of 3% in 2013 is "crucial to the credibility and market confidence." They encourage the French authorities to prepare emergency measures if the risk of further slippage in this specific objective. In contrast, other board members discourage the use of new measures of fiscal austerity. Noting the already high level of taxation, the Board suggests a rebalancing of the tax measures in the medium term in the direction of a better expenditure control.

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