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The end of the franc is big to the Treasury. The latest * franc notes were redeemable at branches of the Bank of France until February 17 at midnight. Ten days after the end of the countdown, the institution is taking stock. A total of 1.5 million tickets have been reported for a total value of 378 million francs (57.6 million), from 1 September 2011 and the deadline of February 17. According to the Bank of France, there is 55 million franc banknotes in circulation, hidden under the mattress, forgotten in old bags or kept by collectors nostalgic. A nest egg estimated at 526 million euros.

And this balance, called "base emission" will be donated to the State. Indeed, the notes and coins in circulation are considered a debt, on the liability side of the central bank. "To annulerla debt, the value of the tickets not presented for exchange is repaid to the State," said the Bank of France in a newsletter. All these francs lost, forgotten or become so jealously preserved revenue to the exchequer.

The countryside of the Banque de France will not have been very successful, despite his repeated reminders to the holders of francs in recent months and the creation of a dedicated website (www.jechangemesfrancs.com). The franc banknotes still in circulation became indeed a treasure of 602 million euros in late 2010. Yet the French had thrown at the offices of the institution's approach to the deadline. "Just under 200,000 cuts were exchanged in December 2011, but nearly 367,000 in January 2012 and 733,000 cuts on the first 17 days of February," says the Bank of France. A record was set on February 17, with 91,000 tickets reported.  

The large denomination reported mass

For latecomers or those who have not managed to get hold of these small economies too well hidden, they have "no choice but to keep their tickets as a souvenir or sell to coin collectors," warns we at the Bank of France. But beware, all tickets will not take the value. "Better to have kept the cuts of 20 francs or 50 francs Debussy Saint-Exupery," said Michel Prieur, specialist of currencies within the Compagnie Générale de Bourse (CGB.fr). Now demonetized, only small values ​​will make a "margin buxom." A lesson that apprentices numismatists have understood. "Two thirds of the reported cuts are notes of 200 francs and 500 francs," says the Bank of France, which states that "the average volume of trade amounted to 15 tickets per transaction, for an average value of 3627 francs (553 euros). "

* The range of notes that can be exchanged against euro: CHF 20 bills bearing the image of Debussy, equivalent to 3.05 euros, the "Saint-Exupery" 50 francs (7.62 euros) , the "Cezanne" of 100 francs (15.24 euros), "Gustave Eiffel" of 200 francs (30.49 euros) and the "Pierre et Marie Curie" of 500 francs (76.22 euros).

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What assurance kilometer?

For this formula the insurance premium paid by the insured depends on the actual mileage each year. Unlike traditional insurance providing "small" and "large" rollers in the same way, the insurance km fits the real needs of the driver's insurance.

This is the only difference from a conventional insurance. Otherwise, the proposed safeguards are strictly the same with or without this formula. Liability, all risks formulas, bonus / malus … nothing changes.

Insurance kilometer may interest all those who drive around with their vehicles. It may, for example using mostly urban public transport, the elderly, young drivers …. But also own several vehicles, some of which are little used, such as campers or collector vehicles.  

In practice, it is interesting for vehicles that travel less than 8000 km per year. At comparable guarantees, insurance kilometer can then save up to 30% on contributions (15% on average).

Auto insurance in package

For this type of auto insurance, the insured and the insurer agree on an annual mileage not to exceed. To verify its use, the meter of the vehicle is controlled at the time of contract execution, and annually thereafter. He is also in case of emergencies and some companies even provide for random checks cash till payday.

For exceeding the package, the insured pays a penalty. It can be fixed or depend on the number of additional kilometers performed.  

Conversely, if the package is not reached, some insurance contracts provide for reimbursement of the overpayment or deferral of kilometers of unused quota the following year.

Auto insurance "pay as you drive" (pay as you roll)

It is the insurance per kilometer in the fullest sense. The insured is actually charged according to the exact number of miles it performs in the year the vehicle is in this case equipped with a GPS unit, whose pose can be paid or free.

Some insurers not only modulate the rates based on mileage, but also driving conditions. Thus, when driving at night, on weekends or in urban areas for example, rates are adjusted accordingly.

Note: Some insurance companies offer both the "pay as you drive" and the package. At the insured to choose the most suitable according to its "consumption" (regular or subject to strong variations from one year to another and even from month to month).

SERVICE:

"Make several comparative auto insurance quotes and contact auto insurance brokers specializing in these formulas.

LE FIGARO. – Your mission in the Ministry of Agriculture will soon end, what measures are you most satisfied?

Bruno Le Maire. – I am proud to have initiated the Battle of regulation in Europe and having secured the CAP budget. I do not regret the hundreds of hours of negotiations that allowed us to achieve: for without the CAP, farmers know that French agriculture is not as strong today. There are also contracts between producers and manufacturers that provide visibility and stability to farm incomes, modernizing sectors of slaughter cattle and finally the reform of the wine that allowed him to resume in 2011 its first place worldwide.

With what results?

We handed agriculture at the heart of the national pact. We have him set the objective: competitiveness, with the aim of sustainable agriculture. No one will return our choice because they produce results. The price of beef back, and demanding meat markets French saving account pay day loan. This is the first time in 14 years! The average income of farmers increased from € 14,500 in 2009 to € 30,200 in 2011. The surplus of the agricultural trade balance has doubled in two years. There are still too many gaps, and I remain vigilant on prices. But it gets better. And more personally, farmers have learned a lot myself. They can always count on me.

What are the issues that remain unresolved?

We must first deal with the chain of fruit and vegetables which is more fragile today. Will largely continue to reduce labor costs, as decided by the president. When I hear Francois Hollande said that there is no problem of labor costs, I see he does not know the reality of the agricultural world.

Finally, it will come to correct misunderstandings and clashes between environmentalists and agricultural world.

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The tension is still up a notch on the site ArcelorMittal Florange in Moselle. About 300 steelworkers blocked since Thursday morning the release of shipments of the site for the restart of two blast furnaces, at a standstill for several months. At a central works council (CEC), management has confirmed the arrest of these furnaces in the second quarter. She said it was a "temporary suspension" and that the situation for the third quarter would be considered "in the month of May." The group, which invokes a slowdown in demand, provides a target restart facilities "as soon as market conditions permit".

Far from being reassured, the unions are convinced that management has signed the "death warrant" of Lorraine site, with imports of Russian steel to fuel its business outside furnaces.

"The management was committed to restarting our blast furnaces if Dunkirk was unable to feed, here, in steel," the mill hot strip mill, which produces steel for automotive technology, said Edward Martin , responsible CFDT. "And now she announces in CEC purchase of 60,000 tons of metal" to a "competitor" Russian laments there. Broccoli for Walter, FO, this purchase "constitutes an admission that Florange not restart."

According to management, 500 employees of ArcelorMittal are affected by the shutdown of blast furnaces, the other 2300 employees working on site production tools downstream. "We try to find a solution for each employee" affected, said Hervé Bourrier, CEO for France.

It was one of the key ideas of the socialist program, before Francis Holland revise downwards its ambitions: the merger of the Income Tax (IR) and the CSG. Now the PS candidate speaks only of reconciliation by the end of its protection mandate. In 2010, the UMP had also considered the option of a merger-IR CSG, before abandoning it.

A government report, prepared by the Department of Budget aimed at parliamentarians, rather gives reason to oppose this tax big bang. For this report, as Le Figaro has obtained, says the administration will not be able to say, before the implementation of the reform, which categories of French will be the winners and which classes will lose. And even if she knows the parameters of the operation. The fusion of IR and CSG would be a leap into the unknown. A leap of faith with immense fiscal challenges: the CSG reported 86 billion in 2011 and IR 48.9 billion.

A complex system

It is the complexity of the current system is causing these problems. The IR and the CSG are two very different taxes. The CSG is proportional. Wages, regardless of their levels, are always punctured by 7.5%. The IR is progressive: the tax rate varies according to income. Income between 5,963 and 11,896 euros per year are taxed at 5.5%, those between 11,896 and 26,420 euros to 14%, etc.. And, unlike the CSG, the IR has many niches. Finally, the IR takes into account the composition of the family through the family quotient, that is not the CSG.

Reconcile the two systems implies change settings so numerous that it becomes impossible to measure the combined effects. There is no way, says Bercy, to be certain that the objective (make taxation more "just" socially, with fewer niches and a progressive scale, as desired by the Socialists) is reached.

No flat tax

The report further finds that certain categories, such as pensioners, could lose to a fusion of IR and the CSG. Their two advantages (a CSG lower, a 10% reduction on the IR) could be questioned.

However, the new tax could not, whatever happens, be modeled on some flat tax adopted in Eastern Europe. The flat taxne not take into account the family situation, is proportional and is taken directly from the payroll. But the report stresses that the new French tax must meet three criteria, under penalty of being declared unconstitutional: consider the family situation, be progressive (not proportional) and tax all income. However nothing prevents the imposition of a levy directly on the payroll in France. But again, tipping is technically complex … Merge the IR and the CSG to create a new tax is a long, complicated, and uncertain results.

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The possible appointment of Jean-Louis Borloo at the head of Veolia react keenly the opposition. Monday, politicians railed against a possible intervention of Nicolas Sarkozy in this case, as reported by Libération and Les Echos.

The Socialist Party, through the voice of Pierre Moscovici, denounced "little arrangements in Fouquet's friends no faxing payday loans." Canal +, the campaign manager Francois Hollande evoked "the game of musical chairs comfortable to oust a man of political centrists and avoid certain temptations."

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"We will put patterns Florange unemployed by taking control of the plant." Edward Martin, representative of the CFDT EWC ArcelorMittal, wants offensive. The occupation of the site, scheduled for tomorrow, is a direct consequence of the extension until 30 June of the closure of two blast furnaces Florange, the last of Lorraine. "The direction we to understand that, barring a miracle, this closure would last all year," says Edward Martin.

For several months, the largest producer of steel has many announcements to reduce its production capacity. Spain, Belgium and France but also Romania and Czech Republic were affected. Today, only the blast furnaces in Liege never reopen. Other closures are for the moment, temporary.

A temporary measure reaffirmed to the minister, Eric Besson

Bourrier Hervé, President of ArcelorMittal France, reaffirmed that "temporary" to Eric Besson, Minister of Industry, last week. Employees such as trade unionists fear yet more than this closing becomes final. The clues that point in this direction are beginning to be numerous.

"A blast furnace is designed to run continuously, says an industry expert. It degrades when it is not the case. "The first blast furnace Florange is closed since June. The second since October. Investment and maintenance are reduced. Some were made late last year but "there is nothing for a month and a half" notes François Pagano, CFE-CGC delegate. "The industrial base is deteriorating, laments Edward Martin. With the cold, some lines broken. "Worse:" The founders began to be reclassified in the group. Leaders do not take it otherwise if they had close Florange. "

The recovery of orders has not changed all that

The recovery of orders failed to revive the plant. Aditya Mittal, CFO of ArcelorMittal, said on publication of results in 2011 that "shipments are much better than the fourth quarter of 2011, but we are still far volumes 2006, 2007 and 2008." What does surprisingly, these years being excellent.

Francois Pagano explains that "the business unit North, including Dunkirk, Florange, Benelux and Germany, recorded 3.7 million tons of orders for the second quarter of 2012 while its production capacity is 3.8 million . So the plants are running at 97% capacity. At this level, it would be possible to reopen Florange to avoid a potential bottleneck. "

Finally, the closure would be consistent with the group's strategy to focus on very large production units in coastline at Dunkirk and Fos sur mer in France and Bremen in Germany. The justifications for the closure of Liege seem perfectly applicable to Florange. "ArcelorMittal is considering a gain of 56 euros per tonne, which would be credited to the closure of Liege and transfer the production of slabs (Note: raw material for the manufacture of sheet metal) to Dunkirk," says the firm Laplace Council A study commissioned by the Walloon region. The forward gain is identical to Florange: "The leaders explain that ArcelorMittal bring slabs from Dunkirk saves 50 euros per tonne," confirms Francois Pagano.

With increased action "punch", although some have put Florange in the heart of the current election campaign. "Getting a formal commitment of a private company seems complicated," admits to the entourage of Eric Besson. A conclusion which adheres Francois Pagano whose only solution is to "convince Lakshmi Mittal's economic interest Florange".

"Ulcos" or last resort

All actors in the Lorraine steel cite Ulcos project, the acronym for "steel making process at very low CO2 emissions," as salvation for Florange. Launched in 2004, this is a program to find new techniques to produce steel with less carbon dioxide (CO2). Investments for carrying out are huge: 650 million euros! The French government has already pledged 150 million euros of funding. And Brussels could bring 250 million additional. ArcelorMittal leaders have vowed to launch Ulcos, and bring the balance of funding, if EU subsidies are granted.

Except that many obstacles have arisen in recent months. First techniques. The processes developed by Ulcos involve capturing and storing carbon. But experts are beginning to question this technique both for environmental reasons and efficiency.

Then the price of CO2 allowances collapsed in recent months, making plans to reduce CO2 emissions less urgent to implement. And nothing suggests that prices will go up quickly. In difficult economic times, as is currently the case, companies may be reluctant to invest in such technologies if there is no immediate financial implications.

Finally, there is little doubt that ArcelorMittal will decide to raise, or not, Florange on the basis of the only economic criteria. "The management of ArcelorMittal has told us clearly that Florange restarted if the market justifies it, and not only if Ulcos born," stated Michel Liebgott recently, area MP Florange.

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The opening of Sunday shopping has become a topic of this Friday's presidential campaign. Nicolas Sarkozy, the president now officially a candidate for reelection, took hold of the States General of Trade to revive a debate that has never really stopped since the adoption of the "law Maille". The Act of August 10, 2009 allows the Sunday opening of shops in some towns and tourist areas and hot springs and in some big cities. More generally, the Labour Code provides for the possibility for all stores to open five Sundays a year authorized by the mayor or the prefect.  

"If the French put their trust in me at the next presidential election, the first step that I will implement will be to continue the flexibilities already made with regard to Sunday opening of shops for you to adapt to changing lifestyles, "it said in the statement that was read by the Secretary of State for Trade, Frédéric Lefebvre. "Broadening the conditions for opening of shops on Sundays, giving you more freedom, it's growth for your business is employment for the French, it's purchasing power for your employees , is the strengthening of the tourist attraction that France is strong, "argued the head of state, resuming his campaign slogan. Already in 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy had placed Sunday working at the heart of his campaign, when he presented himself as the candidate of purchasing power and it boasted its famous slogan: "Work more to earn more" .

And since, traders remained dissatisfied. In his "Pact for the development of commerce", presented in November 2011 with the intention of being sent to the candidates in the presidential election, the Board of Trade of France (FPS) requested the opportunity for each merchant to open " freely from 10 to 12 Sundays a year ", even if his store is located" out of area tourism. " The association already put forward "changing lifestyles" and "ambition tourism in France" to justify its request. During sales in January, Frédéric Lefebvre assured that some foreign tour operators were programming does not weekend in Paris because their customers can not be done shopping.

"A little air"

The issue of Sunday opening is sized. With 730,000 businesses, trade accounts for 20% of private jobs in France and 10% of GDP. Its annual sales reached 1.4 trillion euros, said the FPS. However, the federation does not argue for an opening of "all the shops, every Sunday throughout France." "What we want is a relaxation, a little air," said its chairman Gerard Atlan, quoted by AFP. "The dealer should be there when there is revenue to do, when there is none, it closes."

Like Nicolas Sarkozy, the Socialist candidate Francois Hollande has taken hold of the subject. In a video broadcast on the same Estates General of Trade this morning, he says he will engage in "negotiations" on the issue "controversial" work on Sundays. Last date flowage in a parliamentary report prepared last November that voluntary employee to work on Sunday in the authorized areas was "not sufficiently guaranteed" by some companies. For Francois Hollande, it is to find "a balance between the rights of employees" and concern for traders to "respond to new forms of competition." First union to respond, the CFTC has regretted the "social choice" favored by Nicolas Sarkozy, according to the union, further open the way for the "hyper-consumerism."

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The government calls it "a false flat economy." But simply slowing growth announced Wednesday morning by INSEE (+ 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2011, after +0.3% in the third quarter) is a pleasant surprise. In the midst of turbulence in the euro area, it not only to French growth from to 1.7% in 2011 – a figure that has line width closely corresponds to the expectation of the Government. But it also prevents the entry of countries into recession. In its latest memo on the economy, established in December, the statistics institute saw no improvement emerge this winter and announced a negative fourth quarter.

Contrary to this scenario, the last three months of 2011 were marked by a more or less good performance of all the main drivers of activity. While employment has greatly suffered in late 2011, spending on household consumption slowed without collapsing (+ 0.2% in the fourth quarter, after +0.3% in the third). Business investment has accelerated significantly (+ 1.4% at – 0.4%). As for the deficit, it is a bit small – under the blow of higher exports and lower imports – allowing foreign trade to contribute significantly to both a growth (+0.7 points).

The Minister of Economy Baroin noted in a statement that these results were achieved in "a difficult international environment." But the comments from Bercy sobriety played Wednesday and took care of complacency, the executive knows that the equation of economic and fiscal 2012 has not become simpler in one day.

Appropriations in reserve

In the wake of European difficulties, a GDP contraction is expected in the first quarter of this year (0.1%), before a small growth spurt (also 0.1%) in the second quarter, according to forecasts INSEE. Under these assumptions, the growth overhang at mid-year would be almost nil. Suffice to say that although the government has revised down its growth forecast for 2012 (0.5% against 1%), nothing is won yet. To accommodate this new lens, a 0.6% increase in GDP per quarter during the second half of the year is necessary. But we must go back well before the crisis, in late 2006 and early 2007, to see similar growth rate.

The government has repeatedly said he had put enough money in reserve to hold its trajectory to reduce public deficits without resorting to additional austerity measures. He welcomed the results better than expected on the forehead of public finances in 2011 give him a little oxygen for 2012.

But almost sluggish growth this year would considerably complicate a fragile situation. Half a point less growth, it is about 5 billion more to find. It will take somewhere, have clearly in mind the French: Paris is committed to its partners in Brussels to bring back the deficit to 4.5% of GDP at end 2012. This objective is "intangible", regularly repeats the Prime Minister Francois Fillon. Election year or not.

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