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Crédit Agricole is preparing its future "without taboo"

Monday, March 8th, 2010

For the first time since his enthronement at the Directorate General of Crédit Agricole SA on 1 March, Jean-Paul Chifflet unveils his priorities. A strategic plan for the bank to finalize by July and, especially, a group project that will determine, December 15, the broad long-term. Until then secretary general of the National Federation of Credit Agricole (FNCA), the "parliament of Regional Banks, the leader takes the reins of the first national network of financing the French economy after a period of strong tensions.

Le Figaro. – You arrive at the branch of Credit Agricole after a period marked by strong internal tensions. What is today the climate within the group?

Jean-Paul CHIFFLET. – The page is turned.The Regional Banks have expressed the chairman Rene Carron and the board gave me their trust. Since the handover with Georges Pauget has been successful and the fears that had been born to Crédit Agricole SA have been lifted. It is now for me to get the confidence of team Credit Agricole SA and be up to the expectations that have been made. We are a bank different. Our values correspond to the aspirations of society and an agricultural credit united and mobilized is able to achieve great things.

Your first appointments give full details to the "barons" of Regional Banks. Is it to regain control group by the network?

Only by taking into account the competencies of each guided these choices. Leaders of major subsidiaries have been also confirmed in their posts.I advocate balance and diversity profiles. I've always been concerned teams. Probably because I can not work alone!

The disagreements between President Rene Carron and CEO George Pauget were notorious. How do you prepare to work with Jean-Marie Sander?

We just spent three and a half together with the Federation and we get along very well. This does not prevent us from having trade sometimes "manly", but ultimately we are always in phase. We have a real mutual respect and we will arrange to fill our roles, the presidency of Jean-Marie and the executive branch for me.

When you were on the Federation side, you had ceased all your role as majority shareholder of CASA through the SAS La Boetie.Now, what are your successors who will have this power …

We change jersey but we do not change the team! I am very pleased that we have created the SAS La Boetie. There, on one side, a majority shareholder to comply and, on the other, a listed company to also comply. This means that conflicts of interest may arise – for example around the dividend. They should not be ignored but, instead, discussed and placed on the table.

It also happens that I know very well my successor, Philippe Brassac, and this creates favorable conditions for dealing with conflicts.

What are your priorities?

We are launching a strategic review of business Credit Agricole SA, which culminate in June-July. And at the same time, we also launched a group project to define the broad guidelines to ten years.It is an exercise that Credit Agricole has already done twice before, in 1990 and 2000. We will hold our first meeting March 17 with the presidents and CEOs of regional banks and the Executive Committee of Crédit Agricole SA payday loan lenders . And December 15, we will make our work.

What to expect?

We will prepare the future of group work on its customer relationships, profile, perimeter, etc.. There is no taboo. But I do not anticipate a priori true strategic failure.

Even your bank subsidiary of Crédit Agricole CIB investment? Some see you out of those trades …

You know, agricultural credit, we know that this is not because there has been a year of freezing as it takes to cut the apricots that have not happened.There is no question of any arrest. Since the implementation of our plan to refocus our organization is in line with our strategy. Crédit Agricole to finance companies, small as well as large. And for that we must be able to offer financing capabilities as well as services markets. Our team of market operators is 400 employees. Some of our competitors have up to 4 000. But the size of our team responds well to our model and is suited to serve our customers.

And internationally, the painful failure of your purchase in Greece call into question your political opening?

Crédit Agricole has decided, ten years ago, opening up to Europe. Italy, Egypt or Morocco are real success. In Greece, we have a difficult issue with our subsidiary Emporiki. We're the remedy.Now it is true that Credit Agricole could further strengthen its control over international. There, in the Regional Banks, or at CASA at LCL, a pool of talent that we have to animate to have more staff able to intervene outside our borders. It is for us a real challenge.

Do you participate in the movement of consolidation in the banking sector?

Do not confuse speed with haste. The schedule is favorable to us. We will finalize our project group at the end of the year and will be ready to act even though the regulatory horizon to be clarified. We do not intend to stay out of the game.

Crédit Agricole has already begun to move closer to Societe Generale in some trades. And more extensive project were surveyed …

This debate is beginning to date.With Amund, we set a good joint venture in asset management. If we find other opportunities for collaboration to reduce intermediation costs for our customers, we will. With the Company generally or with others. We are, for example, partners in securities trades with BNP Paribas and savings banks.

In 2006, Crédit Agricole was elbow to elbow with BNP Paribas in terms of results. In 2009, you are in the half. The gap is definitely dug it?

It will perhaps surprise you, but we are not trying to be first. BNP Paribas, which leaves a external growth operation, displays a net banking income of some 40 billion euros. We are 30 billion. The gap is less important. However, our outstanding financing of the economy in France reached 460 billion euros, well ahead of our competitors.We seek above all to make ourselves useful to the economy without making the race for size.

The Greeks in the street, an emergency meeting of EU

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Against "unfair and ineffective sacrifices, Greek officials Wednesday manifested in big cities. A 24-hour strike was launched by the Union Public Service ADEDY, with more than 300,000 members. Employees of public protest against wage cuts announced by the Socialist government to reduce deficits and thus reassure the markets. Tuesday, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou reiterated wage austerity measures provided for in the Public Service wage freeze, down 10% premium, 30% decrease in overtime, stoppage of recruitment in 2010, except in the sectors of health, education and security. Labor Minister, Andreas Loverdos, proposed back two years to 2015 the average age of retirement to raise it to 63 years.

In Athens, about 5,000 union members protesting in the rain in the streets, which must be added the separate gathering of 5,000 activists of the union Struggle Front (PAME), an offshoot of the ultra-orthodox communist party (KKE). In Salonika, is counting down nearly 3,000 officers pounding the pavement.

Moreover, tens of thousands of officials have answered the call to strike the ADEDY. Air traffic controllers joined the strike and there was no traffic Wednesday in Greece.

Meeting of Finance Ministers of the euro area

These events occur when the finance ministers of the eurozone plan to meet as Wednesday by teleconference to discuss the situation in Greece, several diplomatic sources.

According to Le Monde, President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet and the chairman of the Eurogroup forum of finance ministers from the eurozone, Jean-Claude Juncker, will join the discussions.

This meeting will be held on the eve of a summit of EU leaders on the issue in Brussels free credit report . At this stage, there is "not agree" on a plan of aid to Greece. The signs, however, a support mechanism for this country is growing. A senior parliamentary Conservative German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Michael Meister, has indicated that preparations were underway in the German Government for an assistance plan.It could take the form of housing provision of bilateral loans to certain countries of the euro area in favor of Greece, to help cope with higher prices for its cost of borrowing on the markets since the beginning of the crisis.The option of an advance payment of EU subsidies to Greece is also considered.

Papandreou lunch with Nicolas Sarkozy

Prime Minister George Papandreou, who visited on Wednesday in Paris, where he has lunch with French President Nicolas Sarkozy had called in an attempt to limit the impact of the strike, officials to "lead by example" to contribute to the crisis.

Furthermore, President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday held a joint press conference after the informal EU summit in Brussels, including the situation in Greece, said Wednesday the spokesman for the French government, Luc Chatel. "Under the EU summit, the president will have the opportunity to hold a joint press conference with Merkel on various subjects.I guess the question (of the situation in Greece) will be addressed, "said Luc Chatel in reporting to the press the work of the council of ministers.

"The French government is involved as its European partners on the situation of the euro and the situation in Greece in particular," he said, adding that the Economy Minister Christine Lagarde had "routine contacts with counterparts "on this issue.

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Hartz IV: "Germany must reduce its spending"

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

LE FIGARO. – Ruling of the Court puts it into question the whole system "Hartz IV"?

Niels Diederich. – No. The decision of the Court concerns only the welfare of minors. In the system of "Hartz IV", children whose parents are unemployed or who are raised in single-parent families, indirectly affect the state aid. However, they receive only 70 to 80% of the amount awarded to an adult. In 2005, the legislature had found that children have lower needs than adults and had applied a standard reduction. The judges felt that we can not calculate the social benefits attributed to children on the same basis as for adults. They require the development of a new scale of separate calculation, so that their needs are taken into account.The government will soon review the text to make its corrections.

The competitiveness of German companies is in danger?

Not because this decision they will not carry more loads, it does not hurt German exports. The companies co-finance the system of unemployment insurance by 50%. But it is a separate mechanism. The system "Hartz IV" is funded through taxes. But the state has pledged not to raise taxes. It will therefore reduce expenditure to finance the surcoût.La Court is often accused of conservatism.

That shutdown threat does not modernization of Germany?

Politicians always moan against the Constitutional Court. Created after the Nazi era to serve as a safeguard against the state, it has, indeed, enormous powers. But judges do not prevent the country's modernization.On the contrary. In 1949, when the conservative party (CDU) had held that in cases of dispute over the education of children, the man still had the last word on the woman, the Court ruled that the law contradicted the principle of equality between citizens. Since the 1950s, it required that disputes be settled by a judge, thus laying the foundations of the principle of equality between men and women in the country.

ECB: Greece will "in the right direction"

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

No surprises from Frankfurt. The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday left its main interest rate unchanged at 1%. Earlier, the Bank of England also announced the continuation of its policy rate at 0.5%.

In March the Governing Council of the ECB "will take decisions on (…) a gradual lifting of the measures of liquidity [in support of banks] who are no longer as necessary as in the past," said Jean-Claude Trichet at a press conference.

Long awaited on the subject of Greece, Jean-Claude Trichet has held that the fiscal savings by Greece are "not in the right direction.""We are confident in the ability of Greece will take all decisions necessary to achieve the objective" of a deficit below 3% of GDP by 2012, said President of the ECB personal business card . No exceptions will be made for any area countries, "he said.

While Portugal and Spain in turn disturb markets, Jean-Claude Trichet reiterated that it was "crucial" that all countries "respect strictly the exit procedures for excessive deficits."

"According to the International Monetary Fund, the overall deficit of the euro area will rise to 6%", said Jean-Claude Trichet. "The United States will be at 10%, Japan is also at 10%.(…) A more flattering comparison for the euro area! Nevertheless, we exhibit unabsence total of convenience "in the direction of monetary policy," he said.

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Three mediators to avoid the conflict of road

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

The risk of a strike by truckers threaten to block the deposition of large retailers from next Sunday is taken very seriously by governments.

Moments after receiving the Department of Transportation delegated Inter (CFDT, CGT, CFE-CGC and CTFC) of 500 000 employees, the Secretary of State for Transport, Dominique Bussereau, has appointed a mediator, not as planned but three.

Members of the firm Mensia Council Martial Belon, Hervé Nadal Muir and Eric have the difficult task of finding common ground – including on wages – between truckers and their companies.

Unions want the transition to a wage of 10 euros gross per hour for the highest coefficients, 4% increase for executives and 4% more for travel or 13th month for free.Claims deemed unacceptable by the companies badly affected by the slowing economy.

Dominique Bussereau is optimistic. A schedule is considered. "I think some points of view can be reconciled, he said. We hope to reach a first agreement of good will to avoid blocking of deposits, then in a second stage, discussions will be conducted on other points from the start. We promise. "

Dating successive

At work since Monday evening, the facilitators meet successively unions and employer organizations.Wednesday morning, they will provide their preliminary findings at a meeting bringing together the two sides to the ministry, just before the Cabinet tomorrow.

The discussions will continue until agreement is reached, but the secretary general of the CFDT, Maxime Dumont, believes a quick solution. "The situation seems more committed than in the previous conflict two years ago, says he. The government invests. I think some employers' organizations have proposals to make to break the impasse. "

On the employee side, there is, however, still doubtful. "We are conducting a fight but in fact they are the companies that benefit from the advantages offered by the government," said Frédéric Bérard (CFE-CGC). FO-Secretary-General Transport, Gerard Martinez is also on the reserve."How do we get in two days that we could not have in a year and a half?" He questioned Monday before resuming discussions with the mediators.

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Estrosi supports Proglio on remuneration

Friday, November 27th, 2009

Christian Estrosi, Minister of Industry, was set for the newly elected CEO of EDF, Henri Proglio, France 2 on the grounds of the legitimacy of his "wage request". This has indeed said Monday in the columns of the newspaper Les Echos wish to retain a level of pay similar to that which he received in private.

"If I could keep the income level I had at Veolia, it seems to me that this is not shocking in itself for a company that weighs 70 billion public offering" was well justified Henri Proglio.

Asked about the pay, Christian Estrosi said it must "show a little courage if we are to have the best captains of industry to lead our largest companies.Henri Proglio "accept new responsibilities higher" and "refers simply does not occur at a pay level lower," continued the Minister.

The debate on the remuneration of the new CEO of EDF had already been opened November 5 last, when the Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde was assured that Henri Proglio not accrue more and pay only perceive as president of 'EDF.

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Sino-French three proposals Christine Lagarde

Friday, November 27th, 2009

Last April, the presidents Hu Jintao and Nicolas Sarkozy have had a fruitful meeting with the G20 summit in London, putting the Sino-French relations over the rail of a healthy development. Recently, they met in New York, reaffirming their commitment to the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and French. To realize this convergence of views, to echo the call of the business communities of both countries and strengthen economic cooperation and bilateral trade, a delegation from the Ministry of Commerce of China and a "mission of promoting trade and investment "consists of 290 Chinese entrepreneurs from more than 140 companies, travel these days in France.

Despite the challenges of all kinds, economic cooperation and Sino-French trade has always grown at a steady rate.In 2008, the volume of our trade reached a record 38.9 billion dollars, an annual increase of 16%. Today, more than 2 000 French companies are operating in China, their combined sales amount to 25 billion dollars per year, equivalent to twice the amount of French exports to China. Our two countries have conducted fruitful cooperation in various sectors such as energy, aeronautics and aerospace, transportation, etc.. The France is the fourth largest European trading partner of China; it the first partner of France in Asia.

Despite the crisis, our companies have succeeded in finding new business opportunities. Of the first ten months of the year, bilateral trade volume reached 27.75 billion dollars.French exports to China have registered a decrease of 11.9% better performance than that of the foreign trade of China and Sino-European trade, which shows the opening of our recovery plan for French exports. More than 140 companies with French capital have been created in China during this same period, averaging one new company every two days.

The path the world economy of early recovery to a new growth cycle will be long and tortuous. The Chinese government, putting priority on expanding domestic demand, has developed a comprehensive plan. The results are there and the target of 8% growth for 2009 will be realized.

China has also sent a dozen missions to promote trade and investment to over 30 countries and made its contribution to the global economic recovery.The assertion that the crisis will be following the global economic imbalance due to large surpluses in Asian countries is without foundation. The imbalance between developed countries and developing deserves much more attention. Alas, this néothéorie world economic imbalance is in the process of furthering trade protectionism, threatening the economic recovery. The seventh meeting of trade ministers of WTO will take place in a few days, during which will be assessed progress in the negotiations of the Doha Round. The short term success of this cycle is essential to curb trade protectionism. I also make three proposals on bilateral Sino-French. First, increase exchanges between our companies.Recently, we welcomed the visit to China by Ms Christine Lagarde, who took with her famous French companies. And in early December, the third edition of the business convention "China Europa will be held to Le Havre. Second, turn challenges into opportunities, especially in emerging sectors such as the green economy.

Our two countries should deepen cooperation in areas such as new energy, environmental protection, transportation, aeronautics and aerospace, focusing on certain projects. At the same time, China is experiencing strong demand in services sectors such as finance, logistics, tourism, creative industry, software development. It will welcome French companies in its market.Thirdly, provide more facilities to increase the cross-investment, French and Chinese in China in France.

China and France are linked by a history of friendship. In the early twentieth century, many young Chinese have gone to France to study, including Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping became the founding of new China. General de Gaulle made France the first major Western country to establish diplomatic relations with new China. Today it is for us to consolidate the traditional friendship between China and France.

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