Paris

January 15, 2010

Paris Renault stake out of danger back

French government suggested Friday that his production policy rowed back with the car manufacturer as part of their continuing struggle may increase its stake in Renault, but a shareholder in the company’s strategy as its right of intervention defended.
, Industry Minister Christian Estrosi, increasing its stake from 15 percent indicated there was little point because in any case in Renault Industrial Policy and Finance Ministry have decided Elysée Palace.
Renault’s management together with Paris after the company emerged Bhide’s new Clio small car production in Turkey was to detect when it is launched in 2013 on the idea. The Government says that the model should be assembled largely in France.
Renault on Thursday evening at Mr. Estrosi tried to pile on the pressure, as the Government’s 20 per cent as the group’s strategy for more to strengthen his hold on France’s second largest car manufacturer shares in increase was considered.
Understanding “are going to maybe 17, 18 or 20 is a psychological approach to the [Renault], we just react without France’s industrial auto run their course strategy,” he told Reuters in an interview not intend is.
However, in a sudden downgrade, Mr Estrosi said Friday: “The reality is that neither nor the increased number of board members that the strategic and industrial option to receive from the Government and President of the Republic determines Renault’s.
“What if we have capital of 15 percent, or 20 per cent of us, that we have a director or we have six, you think that is where everything is decided or you think that in this place is [Finance Ministry] or in the Elysée? ”
Carlos Ghosn, Renault chief executive officer, Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France on Saturday, with the talks have been invited to Elysée palace.
Brussels is worried that the French government under pressure from Renault in the European Union state aid rules is a violation of a shareholder in response to Mr. Paris said Estrosi and state aid as the company provided € 3bn last year Conditions are not attached.
The European Union’s competition chief Neelie Kroes, on Thursday demanding the Renault Production in France and Brussels in February, the French Government gave assurances clear contradiction between the move “” demanded an explanation from Paris for.
Brussels was related to the € 6bn for Peugeot and Renault were last year’s state debt cost sourcing French car manufacturer – on the basis of qualified suppliers and plant closures in France, resisted.
PARIS France confirmed it settled the dispute when implementation is not that freedom to cross the main producers or production facilities to develop their limited economic activity by the terms applicable to the principles of European Union.
, Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, insisted that “” the kingdom of France was valid was consulted, “Renault’s decision before the Board his advice” is given., That “all laws of the community structure should be undertakings in respect of our European ‘added.
Officials in Brussels, between stressed that his concern is mainly in France, Mr. Estrosi commented on cars for sale in France must be lucky – Clio investment was rather specific.
, A spokesman for Ms. Kroes “Our concern industry minister, Christian Estrosi, which is sold in France, a French car, it must have been in France is something about the statement” said.
He suggested that the minister’s intervention beyond saying a shareholder, declined comment as was: “Let’s see the French” authorities reaction.
Renault to increase its stake in one way the government was not likely. At least 15 per cent of it to increase its stake to 25 will receive an effective blocking minority.
The company’s share price has almost doubled since the government last year in favor of the loan into a liquidity crisis to help. At that point it could take a big part, but have not chosen.
Nissan is also upset a very large part, Renault’s alliance partner, which is 15 per cent stake in French car manufacturer. Japanese group is 44 per cent stake in Renault.

January 3, 2010

Paris sells its surplus vaccines against influenza A (H1N1)

La France began selling its surplus vaccines against influenza A (H1N1), but the priority is to immunize the French, says the Health Minister, Roselyne Bachelot.

“The French government priority is to continue to offer the French population vaccination remains the best protection against this new virus,” says in a statement.

Roselyne Bachelot confirmed the information published .  In France: Paris has already sold 300,000 doses in Qatar and two million are underway to transfer to Egypt “.

“Contacts are underway with other countries, especially Ukraine and Mexico,” added the Minister of Health who spoke of “transfer for value” without giving further financial details.

According to Le Parisien, the doses are sold at the price they were purchased from pharmaceutical companies, or 6.25 to 10 euros depending on the product.

The paper suggests a total of 16.1 million for contracts with Qatar and Egypt.

This operation, conducted jointly by the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs, aims to reduce the bill for the vaccination campaign of mass determined by the government, the newspaper said.

The purchase of 94 million doses has cost 869 million euros, Roselyne Bachelot said in a statement.

CAMPAIGN revived as of Monday

The Minister explained that the sale of French stocks is the result of “immunization schedule at a dose” finally adopted by the government, which had originally planned to immunize French via two injections.

“It became clear that France would have to run, depending on the pace of deliveries, a surplus of vaccine,” said Roselyne Bachelot.

“In a spirit of cooperation with countries that are in demand and good logistics management of its stock of vaccines, France has decided to sell vaccines to foreign countries as and to the extent that the quantities delivered it would, “she writes.

According to Le Parisien, some 9 million doses have been given to parallel the World Health Organization (WHO).

Nearly five million people were vaccinated in France against the disease, according to the latest tally from the National Institute of Health Surveillance, had caused 198 deaths in December 29.

After the holiday season, during which the device vaccination has been lightened, the Interior Ministry announced that the campaign would be revived.

Throughout the week, vaccination centers will open up to three shift per day, has assured the ministry Thursday.

In addition, the campaign will be intensified in schools and colleges and large companies are able to offer their employees and their families to get vaccinated.

“The director of the World Health recently reiterated that the virus is ‘unpredictable’ and that can cause a second peak epidemic or mutate, Roselyne Bachelot said in a statement.

December 30, 2009

French public debt hits record

Filed under: French public debt — Tags: , — admin @ 7:12 pm

France’s public debt at a record third quarter production rose 75.8 percent, government data showed Wednesday, one week after Paris on your credit standing is a warning.
A strong message from the Statistical Institute INSEE, Fitch Ratings after the government’s tough measures to curb state spending if it wants to maintain its top-grade credit rating data from the new loan.
European Union countries, France rarely go above that is alone among major debt, are 2008 and 2009 for heavy spending to deal with a serious recession later, and now face pressure on their sovereign ratings.
Greece has suffered this month, Fitch downgrades the sovereign and has two other agencies, Moody’s and Standard and Poor.
In November, Fitch downgraded Ireland against Spain in January, while Standard and Poor’s action was similar.
Fitch said the ratings last week with top credit was for control of all major governments, particularly Britain, Spain and France targeting.
“Britain, Spain and France are declining, particularly in financial and budgetary challenges facing them over the years accelerate and be more credible fiscal consolidation program, vocal,” the agency said.
Is “not so much pressure on their sovereign ratings will increase” said.
France’s third quarter gross domestic product ratio of debt to 1.9 points from the second quarter was 75.8 percent, well over 60 per cent stipulated in the Maastricht Treaty established the eurozone’s financial base.
French government has forecast that the ratio by the end of 2009 to reach 77.9 per cent and 84 per cent in 2010 will be.
July to September period from the second quarter, 29.4 billion euros in debt rose to a record 1.457 trillion euros (2.1 trillion dollars).
Said that credit growth in the third quarter, INSEE mainly to finance the state budget deficit was.
President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for a national conference next month, both credit and public finance measures to prevent the annual loss in its commitments to respect the rules eurozone France is capable of.
Public deficit recorded level, 8.2 percent of GDP in 2010 to 8.5 percent expected this year and is heading towards.
European Union’s executive commission said France is 3.0 percent for 2013 to reduce the lack of consistent rules of eurozone.
French government initially described as such a time frame is unrealistic but so far agreed to comply.
But that 2013 deadline only if it respects the strong growth in 2011, especially as a tax increase has been ruled out but may return.
Said Tuesday that the economy INSEE France emerged from recession in the second after 0.3 percent increase in third quarter.
Overall, 2009 production is forecast to contract by 2.25 percent.
PM’s economy in 2010 Francois Fillon said an increase of 1.5 percent, though the budget bill is sent to Parliament his administration was based on an estimate of only 0.75 percent.

September 10, 2009

French interior minister accused of racist insults

Filed under: French Government Ministries — Tags: , — admin @ 1:24 pm

French Interior Minister has been caught on camera doing what sounds like anti-Arab comments, angering anti-racism groups, as he insisted Thursday that his words were innocent and misunderstood.

It is an ugly dispute by Brice Hortefeux, the senior official and a former minister of immigration in a country where tensions between police and minority youth occasionally erupt into violence.

It is also sensitive for President Nicolas Sarkozy, an old friend of Hortefeux, and his conservative government.

A video circulating on the Internet shows Hortefeux, at an event last weekend in southwest France for the UMP, the ruling party, who took a photograph with a young group member of North African origin.

Voices on the mostly white crowd talk of “integration,” a woman says, “is our little Arabs.”

Hortefeux is heard saying “does not fit the prototype of all.” Then he says: “We have to have one. When there is, that all is well. It is when there is a lot of them there are problems.”

Hortefeux Office released a statement saying the comment was “a reference to the many images he had just had taken” with local party members.

“Not one word of Brice Hortefeux, made reference to a supposed ethnicity of a young activist,” he said.

Hortefeux But critics jumped on the comment.

SOS campaign group supporting illegal immigrants, said a high court must consider the comments, accusing him of “racial hatred”. Hortefeux has helped carry out Sarkozy’s push to keep out and expel illegal immigrants.

A coordination group of black associations in France, CRAN, said he was “impressed by these unacceptable remarks”.

Gilbert Roger, the Socialist mayor of Bondy, near Paris, where police clashed with youths of immigrant origin, Hortefeux said, “is so disconnected from reality he is surprised that there is diversity within his own party.”

A senior official who recently Hortefeux suspended for racist comments, Paul Girot de Langlade, said on France-Info radio, “Hopefully soon joins me.”

France has struggled with how to integrate immigrants from its former colonies and beyond, and how to accommodate its growing minority population. The discrimination was one factor behind an explosion of riots in largely black and Arab youths in housing projects neglected by France in 2005.

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