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In Slovakia, the cacophony lasted all day. And eight and a half hour debate will not be enough. On Tuesday evening, the Slovak deputies rejected the strengthening of the Financial Assistance Fund in the euro area (EFSF). A decision that could aggravate the debt crisis in the eurozone. Indeed, the unanimity of the country is essential to confirm the agreement reached by the Heads of State on July 21.

Neither the European Commission's exhortations asking Bratislava to endorse the extension of funds or calls Jean-Claude Trichet speaking in a crisis "systems" need to "fight with great determination" n 'So it will not change. Nor the assurances of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, a trip to Vietnam, according to which euro area "political will to overcome the crisis."

Iveta Radicova, Slovak Prime Minister, had nevertheless put pressure, making the vote on the European relief fund about trust, it has finally add fuel to the fire. A party member of the governing coalition, the Freedom and Solidarity movement (12.1% of the vote), who refused from the beginning to support the EFSF, from the outset has responded by announcing that he would not participate simply not election. For weeks, he keeps saying that Slovakia is a country too poor to pay for the mistakes of others and pay 7.7 billion euros. Moreover, in all 124 deputies present, 55 elected representatives voted in favor, 9 against and 60 did not vote.

Early elections

Remains a second vote could take place quickly, as the Constitution allows it, it was said in Bratislava.The ruling coalition without a majority in Parliament, the government would not have other means to turn to the opposition. The Social Democratic Party understands the benefit to be derived from the situation: this very night, the Smer-SD announced its readiness to support the strengthening of EFSF, provided that early elections are held. "If the talks begin, I believe that voting can take place this week," said the spokesman of the party.

In short, just a few days of the summit of European governments scheduled for October 23, the rescue of the euro remains an issue that can not stop dividing.

It would almost forget that a new had to reassure the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.Troika (European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund) has given the green light Tuesday to release "probably in early November," the new $ 8 billion promised to Greece as part of the loan to was granted last year.

The teams of the troika, which had suspended in early September, their on-site because the government was not fast enough in its reforms, believe that additional measures of rigor taken since mid-September "should be sufficient" to address the situation of the country and achieve the deficit to 14.9 billion next year.

Although they recognize that the revenues from privatization will be "significantly lower" to 5 billion euros that had been planned for this year.Similarly, they note the upward revision of the public deficit to 8.5% of GDP (gross domestic product) instead of 7.4% for 2011. But they keep their hopes for sales of state enterprises still bring 35 billion to Athens late 2014.

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"Aid to Greece, the euro suspended Slovak vote

The long pause between colleagues at lunch time lived. The increased pace of work was right in this traditional division, whose length has been reduced to a trickle in the last twenty years. While employees willingly stopped for over an hour and a half to sustain themselves in the 1990s, they now spend no more than 22 minutes on average to this ritual.

"The lunch break has become the adjustment variable of the workday, says Anne-Sophie Godon, director of prevention within the group of social protection Malakoff Médéric, who published a study Tuesday on the subject. The content of the day was densified, while the distance between work and home tends to increase. In this context, employees have no choice but to cut back on the lunch break. "Women are more concerned than men, many of them prefer to take the shortest time at noon in hopes of starting earlier work, says Odile Fox, medical officer in Paris.

Employees bring their lunch more

With less time spent at lunch, it is the nature of the meal that has changed. A perceptible change in the last few years yet, the study said. Since 2009, the number of employees who go home for lunch has been declining (29% of respondents in 2011 against 34% in 2009), as well as those who go to a restaurant business (19% instead of 22%). In contrast, the share of those who swallow a sandwich as a meal is still growing by 2 points in 2011 compared to 2009.

Shortening the length of the lunch break is not always synonymous with "junk food".The proportion of employees who bring their pittance to work after having prepared at home is steadily increasing. Nearly a third now say do it frequently, women are over-represented again. "The French are trying to eat more balanced, it is a serious sociological trend. Provide meals is a way to control your diet. It's also a way to save money, "says Anne-Sophie Godon. The crisis is over there.

Decreased concentration

Sandwich and dish prepared in advance, reducing the dwell time has nevertheless perverse effects. "When you eat quickly, no time to feel full. Satiety occurs only after a quarter of an hour. And when we eat at his computer, it's worse: it does not even pay attention to what you swallow.Result, we tend to snack in the afternoon, "said Patrick Serog, doctor. In 2011, 39% of employees admit to regularly snacking, two points more than in 2009. "Making a real pause, three-quarters of an hour, is crucial, says Odile as Fox. Without this cut, the stress builds up. "

The health of the employee is not only involved for the company either, the lunch break is not wasted time. An employee who does not stop and does not cut even if it's only twenty minutes with their working environment is an employee who may lose concentration. "Attention has its phases. It can be really careful for forty five minutes or an hour, but rarely more. If we restore his normal work environment at his office, for example, the concentration decreases even faster, and we made mistakes, "warns Patrick Serog.This did not include an office where you eat according to host Monster 400 times more bacteria than the toilet normally maintained.

"Testimonials – And you, do you take time for breakfast? Prepare your meals in advance or do you buy close to your work? Share your experience in comments below or by email at temoin@lefigaro.fr.

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"The" standing desk "is emulated

"Nine out of 10 employees engaged in personal activities in the office

The French have never been so pessimistic. A new study paints a bleak picture of the mindset of our citizens. A 88%, they are worried about the situation of their country. A 76%, they are also for their personal situation. "The opinion wins on several subjects, as if the French were more likely to want to stay out of the system," said Vincent Leclabart, head of the agency Australia and sponsor of a survey by TNS Sofres on the relationship between advertising and society.

"We are increasingly optimistic that the country itself," said Emmanuel Rivière, director of strategy at TNS Sofres opinion. But here, the curves converge dangerously pessimistic. The "pessimistic" and "pessimistic" for their personal circumstances have never been numerous. There have been two peaks in the past decade.In 2005, after the "no" to the referendum on the European Constitutional Treaty, and in 2008, due to post-election disillusionment. But after the fall of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, the financial crisis has clouded the picture further. This did not stop to think the French in 2009, consciously or not, the worst was over. They began to hope again. Only the current crisis of debt, at a time when unemployment rises and where growth vanishes, again plunging morale.

The study lists four stalls. In addition to the pessimism, the French won by a malaise that affects both their purchasing power and their relationship to politics and marketing. "The urge to spend is progressing, but the means are lacking, creating a frustration," said Vincent Leclabart. 56% of French people say and do not earn enough to live as they wish.Worse, four out of ten live hard and 27% admitted to frequently or permanently deprived for financial reasons.

63% indifferent and phobia

"These numbers are very important for a developed country, says Vincent Leclabart. A section of the population picks seriously. "This, in a few months of democratic maturity important for the country. But for the French political life is still boring to 42%. And they do not trust politicians to redress France.

In their world of consumption as the French drop. For the first time since the inception of the study eight years ago, the indifferent and opposed to the model "consummatory" the majority (63%). If love remains stable for brands, consumers believe that companies run to them and not their customers."It's about relationship, not product quality," says Vincent Leclabart. The French judge brands more invasive and less entertaining or convincing. Harshest techniques marketing are those who no longer want to spend, even if they can afford. A quarter of French would be disillusioned and when the poor are themselves the "unsubscribe", living hard and having more desire. The study concluded that "policies and brands do not seem to have changed relational mode. At a time when everyone theoretically has the means to express themselves, the opposite is often felt. "

Risk of default of Greece, uncertainty about the Italian economy, banks in the crosshairs of the rating agencies … in times of financial uncertainty, real estate is more than ever its role as a refuge. A study by the Ipsos institute for the network of estate agents Orpi, released this morning confirmed. 39% of respondents, real estate is "the safest investment in France today."

The stone ahead and booklets and savings accounts offered by banks (29%), and life insurance (19%). Actions (2%) and bonds (2%) are even further relegated last. The survey results show that confidence in real estate is even stronger than household incomes are high.Thus, over half (52%) of those reporting more than 3000 euros monthly income claims to have faith in the stone.

If Bernard Cadeau, president of the Orpi network, welcomes the conclusions of the study, he also expressed fears for the future. Recent government decisions – taxation of capital gains, reducing the advantage Scellier have …- he said, clearly upset the French. "It also translates instantly into the field with 5% of our customers who have taken the mandate to sell their second home in the weeks that followed," said he. A view shared by Gilles Ricour Bourges, his counterpart at the Paris-Fnaim. Since August 25, the real estate professionals succeed in denouncing the announcements made by the government and their negative effects on the market and on household budgets as prices could rise again because of the shortage.Analysis they will not fail to spread on the occasion of the exhibition of real estate in Paris, which opened on next weekend.

Until September 30, nothing is lost! There is still time to reduce the amount of the check to the Treasury for the ISF. To do this, most taxpayers will simply altruistic donation to an association of public utility, a research institution or higher education or artistic (non-profit and community service), or to a foundation academic example. They will benefit from an ISF reduction equal to 75% of the amount of their generosity (the gift is included in the limit of 45,000 euros). Their main concern in the coming days is to choose the institution they most want to help.

Other taxpayers prefer to invest in developing their heritage. To alleviate the ISF, they will be willing to take risks. For their salvation will come from SMEs.Taking an investment in an unlisted (eg during a capital increase), they are entitled to a tax reduction equal to 50% of their bets, capped at 45,000 euros. "For the first time this year, this tax benefit is granted subject to maintain this participation decade. The minimum period of detention was until 2010 only five years, "says Didier Orens, Director of Private Banking Palatine.

New deal to invest in SMEs

Unless you're used to playing the angel, or to have in its relations to an entrepreneur confidence eager to welcome new shareholders, it is very difficult to choose oneself society adequately. But sometimes private banks épaulent their clients in this process.Banque Palatine, for example, proposes to support film production, investing in a small business designed with the specialist who already operates its Sofica (companies that finance the film industry and provides a tax advantage for income tax) .

Last year, it was still possible to diversify risks and build on a number of SMEs both through a holding company that was responsible for selecting them. But the new rules imposed on these structures this year has had a dramatic effect: it creates it virtually over. Investors can not expect to reduce their ISF through them no fax cash advance.

To receive a turnkey management and a diversified investment must subscribe for units of FCPI (mutual funds in innovation) or FIP (local investment funds).If the fund is committed to devoting 100% of its portfolio in SME financing, the taxpayer is granted relief on ISF 50% of the amount subscribed. If the fund is content to place in non-listed 80% of its assets (the remainder is invested in money market investments in listed shares, bonds …), the tax benefit is "only" 50% × 80% 40% of the bet. In all cases, the economy of ISF is capped at 18,000 euros. The subscriber must keep its shares five years, but the actual duration of the investment is longer, sometimes over a decade … because you have to allow time for the manager to sell the participations in the capital of companies (with another fund, another group leaders.) and to reimburse the taxpayers as well. The new trend? Some FCPI FIP and invest in convertible bonds (non-listed course) issued by SMEs in obtaining financing."This is a solution increasingly demanded by business leaders because it prevents them from being diluted by new shareholders," said Fabrice Imbault, associate director at A Plus Finance. Another advantage: the FIP or FCPI know more precisely what date it will be refunded.

Among the FCIC that matured (ie, generally between seven and ten years after the purchase), some showing heavy losses. Others have preserved capital or even offered a capital gain of 10% to 50% throughout the period (excluding tax benefit and entrance fees). How to sort the wheat from the chaff? "The most important is that the manager has a sufficient deal flow, that is to say that SMEs seek the spontaneously when accessing finance. This implies that it is known entrepreneurs or intermediaries who advise them, "said Fabrice Imbault.Because for the money, good "records" of investments are not so numerous. And they are coveted.

After starting the session in the green on Tuesday, following information about a possible takeover of Italian debt by Beijing, the CAC 40 is pressed far into the red on Tuesday. One hour after opening, it lost 2.86% to 2773.07 points, after starting the session up (1.53%). The other European financial centers remain hesitant: the Footsie-100 from the London Stock Exchange down 0.11%, the Dax in Frankfurt rose 0.26%, the FTSE MIB in Milan down 0.11% and the IBEX 35 Madrid is at -0.13%.

According to a report in the Financial Times, had asked Italy to China to perform major purchases of its sovereign debt.Senior Italian officials told the newspaper that Lou Jiwei, the chairman of China Investment Corp (CIC), was the head of a delegation that went to Rome last week to meet with Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti and as responsible for the Cassa Despositi e Prestiti. After starting the session in the red, Wall Street has ended the session in the green Monday, the Dow Jones gained 0.63% on the session. This morning, Asian stock markets also popped up slightly. The day before, the Paris Bourse had ended the session on a sharp decline dropping 4.03% to 2854.81 points (their lowest level since April 2009), weighed down by banking shares.However, market rumors suggest that Beijing now hear is not finally ready to buy bonds in Italy.

Result: the banking sector is left in the red zone, having been literally massacred on Monday. For the record, the U.S. agency Moody's announced it would lower a notch notes BNP Paribas (-10.26% to 23.44 euros) and Credit Agricole (-2.01% to 4.73 euros) and two notches that of Societe Generale (-6.10% to 14.62 euros) because of their exhibits to Greece.

Investors are particularly concerned about the situation in Greece, including the possibility of bankruptcy is no longer excluded for many politicians. An output of Greece to the euro is now considered by many economists.To this must be added about this Monday, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, chairman of the Financial Markets Authority (AMF), which estimates that Greece may have to undergo further restructuring of its debt. "What is likely to be more pronounced restructuring of the Greek debt," he said on iTV. German side, Angela Merkel is trying to catch up about his Economy Minister Philipp Rösler, who spoke Monday the event of a default of Athens.In a radio interview BBB, the Chancellor found it necessary to "avoid any uncontrolled process in the euro area."

Oil prices mixed

On the foreign exchange market, the euro was down slightly Tuesday against the dollar and the yen on Monday after falling $ 1.35 for the first time since February and the lowest for 10 years against the yen, and the voltage was strong, the markets fear more a possible failure of Greece. Around 8 am, the single European currency was worth 1.3665 dollars against 1.3680 dollars on Monday in 23 hours.

As for oil prices, they were mixed, helped by a relative weakening of the dollar-weighted but the latest projections of OPEC anticipates a lower than expected growth in demand for crude because of the nervousness of the markets.In early electronic trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October gave himself 80 cents to 88.99 dollars a barrel while Brent North Sea crude for delivery in October, more sensitive to economic conditions in Europe, gave 52 cents to 112.25 dollars. "We see that oil has a weaker dollar," said Ker Chung Yang, an analyst at Phillip Futures commodity in Singapore.

On the front mécroéconomique, the consumer prices in France rose 0.5% in August from the previous month, said Tuesday the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE).This increase resulted mainly from the late summer sales but also reflects the higher prices, also seasonal, tourism-related services, these increases are offset by the seasonal decline in prices of fresh produce, INSEE said.

In addition, the current account deficit widened from France in July to 4.5 billion euros against 3.4 billion in June, due to an increase in the deficit of trade in goods, announced Tuesday Bank of France.

United States, the import price will be announced in late afternoon.

Values ​​to follow

Accor (-4.77% to 20.48 euros)

The hotel group announced on Tuesday a target for 2011 operating profit of between 510 and 530 million euros during the presentation of its new strategic objectives.

Renault (-2.69% to 23.33 euros)

The manufacturer has officially launched Monday in Maubeuge mass production of the Kangoo Zero Emission (ZE), which accounts for between 30,000 and 20.OOO vehicles per year.

PSA Peugeot Citroën (-2.91% to 16.04 euros)

The CEO of PSA Peugeot Citroen confirms Philippe Varin Tuesday in our columns his will "accelerate cost reductions," including employment.While ensuring that no significant slowing in demand was observed, explaining that the group wants to "guard against a possible market downturn."

Total (-2.29% to 31.38 euros)

The oil company announced Monday that he wanted to continue the search for shale gas in the southeast of France, while pledging not to use the method known as "hydraulic fracturing" now banned.

Interparfums

The group specializes in the design and marketing of fragrances, posted first half net profit up 33% to 17.1 million thanks to sales, according to a statement released Tuesday. This result should the "lead to revise upward its forecast for sales in 2011," added the group.

The CAC 40 continues its slow descent into hell. The stock market, which recorded a third consecutive session ended with a downward decrease of 1.13% to 2965.64 points, its lowest close of the year. It should even go back in spring 2009 to find such levels.

Moreover, stock markets are all in red with the exception of London (1.06%) and Zurich (4.02%). But the DAX in Frankfurt still loose 1.04% and 2.06% Milan.

Greece again centralizes all fears since the country's authorities and inspectors of the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank, have suspended talks to ten days. The two parties disagree on the reasons and extent of delays by Athens in reducing its budget deficit. This situation endangers the second rescue plan concocted by the European Union.Some analysts believe even now that the plan was stillborn. "Greece has already slipped over new deficit targets," said Bruno Cavalier, as well, an economist at Oddo Securities.

Nervousness is also high, whereas the German Constitutional Court will make its decision Wednesday on the highly anticipated aid granted by Greece to Berlin and the establishment of a European emergency fund. Germany is the main creditor of Greece in the eurozone.

"It's a stampede"

Also in the issue of debt in the euro zone, Italy is suffering from a new crisis of confidence while accumulating doubts on its ability to curb its deficit despite the adoption of an austerity plan this summer.Finally, union sources said yesterday that the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero had recognized mid-August, the markets in crisis, that Spain was close to a "rescue" needed.

"It's the stampede, the free fall. Trust is the innermost and nobody does anything to reassure, "commented Xavier Villepion, sales of shares in Global Equities. "Investors have no reason now to invest in the equity markets," he says. "We are in a dynamic market similar to that of the fall of 2008, when prevailing psychosis triggered by the subprime crisis," said Patrick Jacq, bond strategist at BNP Paribas."Everybody goes in the same direction and fled to the German long-term bonds," he said.

"No recession in the U.S."

These problems of sovereign debt in addition to fears of a global recession while the health of U.S. economic worries. In this regard, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Tuesday that the United States was not threatened by a return to recession. "I do not think the United States and the world will fall into recession," he said.

Societe Generale and Credit Agricole to the lowest since 2009

Bank stocks were again the most attacked: BNP Paribas lost 5.24% to 29.66 euros, Crédit Agricole, 4.72% to 5.56 euros and Societe Generale, 6.54% to 18.92 euros.

Audika: + 1.56% to 16.30 euros

The group released a net profit up 17.2% to 4.8 million in the first half, Audika has benefited from financial instruments, whose contribution represents about 400,000 euros.

Medica: 2.54% to 12.50 euros

Medica said it had seven times its first-half profits to 20.7 million euros and raised its annual growth target of the activity of 15% to 17%.

NYSE Euronext: -1.68% to 17.80 euros

The group announced a return to continuous trading, as of Thursday, September 8, a series of indicators of the Paris Bourse, the SBF 120, which was suspended on August 8 for technical reasons.

Casino: -1.66% to 54.36 euros

The retailer Almacenes Exito Colombia, 54.8% owned by the French group, has launched a capital increase of $ 1.4 billion (one billion) unveiled in late June.

Paris airport: -0.38% to 55.29 euros

A consortium that includes ADP is one of the groups pre-qualified to take over the airports of Madrid and Barcelona, ​​said Monday the Spanish airport authority AENA.

Lagardère: 0.03% to 19.30 euros

Arnaud Lagardere said the media group is considering a share buyback or payment of a dividend with the proceeds of the sale of the international magazine division.In an interview published Tuesday by the newspaper Les Echos, he also said that the withdrawal of the group of EADS will not happen until the release of the Airbus A350, the future long-haul European aircraft manufacturers.

Air France-KLM: + 0.79% to 6.14 euros

The group wants to save 700 to 800 million euros in additional savings and will also scale back its flight schedule.

GDF Suez: -2.07% to 19.63 euros

The newspaper Les Echos, there will be no increase in gas rates for individuals on 1 October, the Regulatory Commission (CRE) does not provide a complete analysis of the tariff before the end of September.

Séché: -9.65% to 42.45 euros

The company said it was reviewing its goal of decreasing operating income (ROC) for 2011, it now expected around the level reached in 2010 after falling 2.7% in the first half.

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"CAC 40: 3000 points, a psychological threshold for the market

Denis Olivennes set the course. The boss of Europe on Monday announced a desire to place the station "lasting beyond 10% of total audience," where its predecessor, Alexandre Bompard, always assured that "we had not set a target Hearing ". A Europe which ended the 2010-2011 season to 8.7% of the audience, did not exceed the symbolic threshold of 10% audience from January to March 2010. For Denis Olivennes, yet it is the "natural area" where Europe has to change 1. Currently, a play in which division France Inter (10.2%) and NRJ (10.7%). "It's a marathon not a sprint," said Denis Olivennes.

If the owner of the station, also at the head of information division of Lagardère Active (Europe 1, Sunday Journal and Paris Match), is given three years to reach its goal, it is pressed to do so."We need to increase advertising revenues and those from diversification. It provided funding for our programs, "commented Denis Olivennes. In the first half, Europe 1a indeed registered a "slight decrease" in advertising revenues. But advertisers have been attracted by the new schedule in September, reassured the control group low fee payday advance.

This new grid wants to "reconnect with the deep roots of the station." "Europe is a television station whose spine is the information which has the characteristic good humor," analyzed Denis Olivennes.Simple translation on the air: the three appointments of information of the day – the morning, afternoon and evening Europe – are interspersed with two "beaches of entertainment," in the late morning and afternoon.

New site info

Eager to improve its image among listeners as advertisers, Europe has become an an "opinion leader". It is the mission entrusted to Arlette Chabot, director of information of the station. "The information needs to be a reference to Europe, as its independence," she said. To strengthen its position as the standard for information, will also launch a Europe in mid-October a "pure player" of information, facilitated by a dedicated team of journalists. It will be fed content from other sites in the group, its own content and production of Internet users.

While many criminal investigations are underway in the United States against Goldman Sachs, the management of the investment bank is taking the lead. Concordant sources, its chief executive, Lloyd Blankfein, has hired Reid Weingarten, a lawyer outside the company. The establishment said that such recruitment is not exceptional. Thus, a spokesman for the group stated that: "As is common in such situations, Lloyd Blankfein and other members of society must be heard as part of an investigation by the Justice Department U.S. response to the issues raised by a report (of a commission of inquiry of the Senate) have hired a lawyer. "

But in exchange, the reaction was particularly violent: the title of the bank plunged 4.7% to 106.51 dollars on Monday.The action that had opened up a hook at the very end of the session in the wake of the announcement by Reuters, the recruitment of Reid Weingarten. The decline then continued as in trade after the market fell to 105.45 dollars. The markets are worried because of legal troubles that will face the bank and could affect the company and its future profits.

Profile Reid Weingarten feeds the fears of Wall Street

The profile of the chosen lawyer, Reid Weingarten, fueling fears of investors. The latter is one of the most renowned lawyers in the defense of white collar crimes. He has defended the former CEO of WorldCom, Bernard Ebbers and former CFO of Enron, Richard Causey credit reports free. Both men are currently incarcerated for fraud.Reid Weingarten recently said to be "used to defend difficult cases where my clients are hated by all." He has also defended including the former legal adviser to the U.S. energy broker Tyco, former executive director of classifieds site Monster.com employment and CEOs of U.S. Neteller online banking and the reinsurer Gen Re . All suspected fraud, tax or other.

After being hired by executives of Goldman Sachs, some are asking: "Why hire someone like that?" And for them, "it means only one thing: they take the matter seriously."

Goldman Sachs is not his first brush with the law. Accused of misleading its customers at the height of the crisis, the bank had paid $ 550 million in June 2010 to settle a complaint by the U.S. authority to regulate stock exchanges (SEC).And recently, the U.S. Senate issued a 650-page report very critical of the bank for its handling of the subprime crisis. The Justice Department is also continuing its investigation into Goldman Sachs and questions about its activities and its role in financial crisis. The bank is particularly accused of misleading its customers shortly before the outbreak of the financial crisis. She also denies two years of accusations of fraud and conflict of interest.

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Greece seriously concerned about new markets. First because of its new economic forecast alarming: the finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos, admitted yesterday that the austerity plan would cause a recession than expected, with a decline in GDP is now estimated at 4.5% " at least "in 2011 against 3.8% prior.

But mainly because the second plan with 158.6 billion euros, concocted by the Heads of State on July 21 and has yet to be ratified by all members of the euro area, has been seriously shaken by Finland.

Helsinki this week announced it has signed a bilateral agreement with Athens where, in exchange for his participation in the bailout, Greece to collateral ("Collateral") to Finland. This sum, which some analysts valued at 1 billion euros would be invested by Finland in risk-free assets.Interest earned will, in the end, to cover the amount loaned in the rescue plan. In other words, the Finnish government has made pledges to ensure against any risk of default of Greece.

Two-tier system

Technical in appearance, this agreement could have an impact politically devastating. Although this is a bilateral agreement, "Member States of the zone will validate this discussion between Finland and Greece," said a spokesman for the Commission, Amadeu Altafaj, ensuring that " Negotiations are already underway. "

But in Brussels, it does not hide his concern. If it is definitely validated the agreement between Finland and Greece could open a Pandora's box by allowing other countries to step into the breach. Austria, Slovakia and Slovenia are already tempted to do the same."We believe this agreement will exacerbate the problems of Greece and did not fall," warned yesterday the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. He said the solution is equivalent in effect to "resume direct" the money lent. However, the Dutch Prime Minister said that if the Finns get this guarantee, it should apply to all countries in the euro area quick cash.

Therein lies the problem. By creating a two-tier system, the agreement undermines the solidarity displayed by the leaders of the euro area on July 21. "The participation of Finland has been canceled," said one EU source, deploring an arrangement going "against the spirit of the agreement" for Seventeen.

Difficult, however, to reverse, the source added.Helsinki is indeed required to deal with the nationalist party of the True Finns since their breakthrough in the last legislative elections and their reluctance to come to the rescue baskets drilled in the euro area.

Markets are not fooled

Under the pressure of Finland, the Heads of State of Seventeen had included a short clause in their agreement of July 21, stating that "where appropriate, a security agreement will be established to cover the risk arising, for Member States of the euro area, the guarantees they have provided to EFSF. " The rhetoric is vague and leaves open to interpretation. Yesterday in Brussels, experts from the ministries of finance in the euro area came together to floor on the issue.

For the Commission, this development is not a surprise, and he emphasizes the urgency of ratifying the agreement of July 21.José Manuel Barroso had written to heads of state of the euro area from August 3 to ask them to speed up the timetable, and thus "avoid introducing excessive stress in terms of conditions or additional collateral." We understand better the rush now.

Athens wanted reassurance yesterday, indicating he had entered into negotiations with a pledge of Helsinki. But financial markets are not fooled: "If all countries in the euro area, each requiring a Trust Agreement, this will restrict all the help that will actually be available for Greece," say economists at Barclays Capital. This would imply de facto establishment of an additional third envelope.

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