Between austerity and growth, Spain and Portugal chose austerity. The two countries have had the opportunity on Wednesday to position themselves on the subject after the election in France of Francois Hollande. Met yesterday in Porto at the twenty-fifth summit Iberian, the two heads of executive kept intact their desire to fulfill their goals of rigor.

The Spaniard Mariano Rajoy and the Portuguese Pedro Passos Coelho spoke with one voice. Asked about the possibility of surrendering to 2014 – instead of 2013 – the target of increasing the public deficit below 3% of GDP, the Spanish prime minister responded without ambiguity. "The debate is not how to relax the requirements, but how to respect our commitments," said Rajoy. "Do not spend what we do not have is a good policy, he said. Spain signed the pact budget and considers it to be maintained. "

Structural reforms

Passos Coelho has said the same direction. Portugal depends on the conditions of a European aid plan, said the Prime Minister, and "if it fails to meet its objectives, it will engage with a new plan that will be more expensive, longer and more expensive socio-economic terms. Nobody wants that. "

The design of the growth of the two leaders did not have much to do with the defenders of the stimulus. "We run growth policies in Europe and in our country, argued the Spanish head of government. We adopt structural reforms that take effect in the medium and long term. "

Since taking office four months ago, Rajoy flexibilized labor law, encouraged bank mergers and generalized rigor. Passos Coelho also expressed the way forward: "We can not grow if the debt is unsustainable, he thought. Fiscal restraint is the first step of a return to growth. "

Only concession to the stimulus, the role given to the European Investment Bank. "We defend the idea of ​​reinforcing the EIB to take into account SMEs and micro-businesses," said Passos Coelho well.

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Minister of Industry, José Manuel Soria, foreign affairs, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, through the CEO of Repsol, Antonio Brufau is a general mobilization in Madrid. Since the announcement Monday night from the expropriation of the group YPF, Repsol's subsidiary in Argentina, the Spanish government officials and oil company's succession of television sets in press conferences to express their anger.

Because even if it concerns also international investors, largely present in the capital of Repsol YPF, the coup of President Cristina Kirchner is lived in Madrid as an affront to the country. "A decision against the interests of Spain and Spaniards," says Soria. It must be said that YPF is the crown jewel of Repsol. The Argentine subsidiary to the parent provides half of the production of hydrocarbons (or 459,000 barrels per day), 40% of its reserves and a third of its gross profit. Repsol, the coup, wants to pay a high price Buenos Aires: Antonio Brufau requires 8 billion euros in compensation for the 57.4% stake in Spanish oil YPF.

"A very bad signal"

For now, Spain brandished the threat of retaliation, without elaborating. Minister Soria evokes "the consequences of different fields: diplomatic, commercial, and industrial energy." Europe is united with Madrid. The head of European diplomacy, Catherine Ashton, denounces "a very bad signal" sent by Argentina to foreign investors and warned that Brussels is studying all options instant payday loan.

Beyond the rhetorical threats, what are the real possibilities of retaliation? Specifically, Madrid remains an important outlet for Buenos Aires. Spain imports twice what it exports to Argentina. In 2011, Spaniards bought 2.01 billion euros of products to Argentina and that they have sold 1 billion. Chemicals, raw materials, intermediate products as well as fruits, vegetables, fish and seafood are among the goods most in demand in Spain.

"Legal uncertainty" in Argentina

Repsol also is not the only company of Spanish origin present in Argentina. In energy, construction and banks, the Spanish groups have settled in Buenos Aires and the rest of the country. Gas Natural has reached such an EBITDA of 27 million euros last year. Santander and BBVA, the two giants of Spanish bank, achieved respectively 5.36% and 5.22% of their net profits in Argentina. Telefonica de Argentina, finally, achieved a turnover of more than 3 billion euros, thanks to its 24,000 employees in Argentina.

For now, the 400 Spanish companies are located low profile. Spanish executives point out, the image of Gas Natural, "the excellent relations with the Argentine government." But on condition of anonymity, officials complain in the Spanish press of the "legal uncertainty" that takes place in Argentina.

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The Lada 2107 was an evolution of the Lada 2101, which was partially a licensed copy of the Fiat 124 of 1966. It was produced in Russia since 1982 on the banks of the Volga in a huge industrial city called Togliatti, named after a founder of the Italian Communist Party, Togliatti. In the 1980s, he left the plant of AvtoVAZ over 700,000 cars per year.

Lada was born in Russia in June 1970, shaped by the automaker AvtoVAZ, and originally destined for the Soviet market.

Between the decades 1980-1990, the production of Lada was widely exported, up to 60%, primarily west of Europe, except the United States, only major country not to have imported the mark. Since this period, a total of over 18.5 million Lada labeled "Rivas" was recorded.

The term "Lada" meaning "boat" in old Russian, the brand has always been characterized by very basic equipment personal loan for poor credit. Its logo is also a Viking longship, echoing the supposed strength of his cars. But a key to the success of this car is its Soviet economic price: he had to rely Euro 2800 – with the aid of the state to offer the Lada 2107. Something to be looking at least the lack of comfort, and limited accessories offered the Lada 2107: a radio and a fan.

AvtoVAZ has already bet to replace the veteran by more modern models such as Kalina, Priora and Granta. While relying on the car "ultra-low cost" during the project with Renault, which owns 25% stake in AvtoVAZ.

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While Germany has recovered its investment before the crisis of 2008, the French business leaders remain on the defensive. According to a study by the credit insurer Euler Hermes from 1684 businesses for the periods May 2011-September 2011 and November 2011-January 2012, a third of companies have stopped their investment in the second half of 2011. Small companies doing less than 4 million, including retail trade, are particularly affected. The lack of visibility is the main reason. "A fog effect resulted in a sharp decline in investment decisions and the quality of investment deteriorates," said Ludovic Subran, chief economist at Euler Hermes.

All sectors have reacted the same way. "45% of service companies have decided to halt their investments regardless of their size. Conversely, the food industry – particularly large – were able to hold their own game: + 8% investment rate compared to the average of other sectors. This can be explained by the fact that they export more, "says Ludovic Subran.

Uncertainty on taxation

The gloom has also dictated the attitude of two thirds of enterprises which increased their capital spending last year compared to 2010. They did so because they had invested in the first half and could no longer freeze spending in the second half.

The trend remains the same for this year. Only a quarter of French companies expected to increase their investment spending. Wait-they do not invest in new markets or improve their research, but to renew their equipment or to retrofit. "Companies are very concerned," says Ludovic Sénécaut, France region responsible Euler Hermes. It is true that business prospects are not encouraging. Euler Hermes is forecasting growth of 0.4% this year. Uncertainties about the evolution of taxation in the aftermath of the presidential election are high. "Our growth will suffer austerity plans of other countries as well as historic highs in terms of savings and unemployment impacting the consumer," says Ludovic Sénécaut. The credit insurer expects a 4% increase in business failures expected to affect 63,500 businesses.

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Its facade that gives pride to the larch and its roof like helium-filled, the shopping center that opened Wednesday in Lyon in the new district of Confluence is not like normal plants for sale. Nevertheless, this shopping venue which has 102 stores spread across 53,000 square meters will have to meet quite a challenge. Prove that at the merchant web booming and consumption lowered, the formula is not exceeded. Find its place in a commercial landscape Lyon already quite saturated with 267 shops including La Part Dieu and 85 stores in Ecully fifteen minutes by car. Show that a new center can succeed while the latest openings, especially the Millennium in Paris in 2011 – are not successful.  

To top it off, the latest Unibail is located in a brand new neighborhood with 10,000 new residents already … but where Lyonnais have not yet used to come. A context that does not prevent Guillaume Poitrinal, CEO of Unibail to found great hopes on Confluence. "After three or four years, this center should achieve a turnover of 200 to 250 million with seven to eight million visitors," said he. For comparison, the center of Nice Cap 3000, considered one of the most efficient outside the Paris region reached 450 million euros in annual sales.

Apple Store in gondola

To take his bet, Unibail, which is the leading commercial centers in Europe, here applies the recipe that made its success elsewhere. A large dose of strings prevalent but unavoidable (Zara, Etam, C & A, Grand Optical, Franck Provost …), a pinch of signs that create events (Apple Store, Hollister, California clothing brand of Abercrombie & Fitch) and several newcomers in France and the Spanish brand apparel SuiteBlanco Specialist Portuguese decoration Loja do Gato Preto guaranteed online personal loans. In addition, it adds some local brands such as qualitative Cellerier catering, library Decitre Galix or shoemaker. Obviously, there are a hypermarket (Carrefour one) but small (4500 m). However, there is no distributor of home appliances or TV-type brown goods and computers. No trace either of stores that sell CDs or DVDs. "It's a choice: Today, consumers buy these products online," said Romain-Lavignie Molho, director of the Lyon Confluence.  

Instead, Unibail has developed the leisure part: the second floor is a multiplex with 14 theaters but also a climbing wall, spa and restaurant offers a larger than usual. Of fast food like McDonald's, Starbucks coffee as well as the more upscale chains such as Italian or American Fuxia Razowski. Moreover, to make shopping more enjoyable, Unibail has treated the architecture of the place. Part of the center is open air, in the other part, the transparent roof lets plenty of light, and in public areas, natural ventilation avoids air conditioning, inconsistent with the principles of sustainable development . An approach designed by architect Jean-Paul Viguier, known for directing Heart Defense, the largest office complex in Europe, located in the business district. The coming months will tell whether these efforts will restore the taste of consumers to buy badly shaken by the crisis.

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After the United States, Canada, Britain and Japan, Google is embarking on movie rentals in France. "Several hundred feature films from major Hollywood studios and French are available for rent today," said Google France Thursday on his blog.

The films include new releases available at 3.99 euros in high definition and VF, such as Drive, Tintin and The Year of the State, and feature films catalog at 2.99 euros (3.99 euros HD) as The Jerk, Pirates of the Caribbean and Inside Man. These films come from partnerships with EuropaCorp, M6 Video / SND, Europe Disney, NBC Universal and Sony Pictures. The lease is for one month, and the reading must be completed within 48 hours.

Play Google, reply to iTunes

Movie rentals enrich Google under "Movies" from YouTube No teletrack payday loans. They are also the new Google platform Play, launched in early March, which integrates the Android application store (eg Android Market) and could accommodate the service Google Music at its launch in France.

With "Play", Google seems to replicate the strategy of Apple's iTunes. The films are not only readable from a computer, but also from within the application "Google Movies Play 'on the shelves, and Android smartphones (but not television). Sign of the importance of Google Play, a link to the new service appears in this week since the navigation bar of Google, along with research, Google Maps and Google +.

It was too dry in southern Europe. Particularly in Portugal, where the month of February was the driest in 80 years, and Spain. "The disturbances do not pass. (…) We are witnessing an upsurge in forest fires and streams experiencing flow rates up to 80% below normal, "noted recently The Weather Channel. "No improvement, or real return of rain is expected," worries do we, as the drought could lead to "catastrophic harvest."

Red indicates a severe drought.

The success of the magazine inspires XXI Francois and Jean-Dominique Siegel. The two brothers, son of the founder of VSD, Maurice Siegel, April 5 launch a new "magbook" magazine mid-mid-book, Tomorrow We. Their ambition is to make a "marker of social change."

In line with Current, relaunched in 1970 by the post-68 generation, or the U.S. magazine Wired, established in 1993 to decipher the impact of technology in society, they hope to re-register in the frame of the time. "This magazine is a showcase to build something new, Siegel says Francois. If the stock settles, we will develop a website, a platform for trade and a think-tank. "We Demainmise on this societal positioning to differentiate itself from other" magbooks "turned to the big story (XXI), Foresight (& Usbek Rica) or polar (Alibis).

Like the latter, We Demainsera distributed in large networks of library. On an initial run of 30,000 copies, most books will be reserved for rays of Fnac, Virgin, Relay and large newsagents, and those of Carrefour hypermarkets, Auchan and Leclerc no fax payday advance. The title is based on the publisher Le Cherche Midi and its distribution network Interforum (Editis). Tomorrow we will start at 12 euros, and will cost 15 euros, the same price level as other "magbooks".

Create a "label"

The project was fully funded by the GS Group, owned by Francois and Jean-Dominique Sylvain Attal and Siegel, who oversees GS Press, governed and publisher of the monthly Info-Driver and two television quinzomadaires for Auchan and Leader Price. Jean-Dominique Siegel Demainun We hope to do the "label" that will generate a new economic model. Without advertising startup, the title is meant to seduce "brands involved," for traditional advertising or through partnerships, but also to attract investors.

Users are indeed more likely to make purchases from the shelf but it's mostly e-commerce, according to a survey conducted by Orange. And if they plébiscitent reading news on this screen pleasant, that finds her diary, they are not necessarily willing to pay. In the U.S., only 14% of users have an application fee information, the survey conducted in the fall by the Pew Research Center Center among 1200 users. Only 21% would be willing to pay $ 5 a month to access their preferred source of information on shelf.

In France, the time spent reading newspaper articles increased by 75% for tablet users. The tablet has changed the online consumer and has particular evening.

"63% of these same consumers prefer the traditional players in the information, having a strong brand, aggregators like Google News," according to a study by the agency Starcom and BBC.com. But only 2% of households are equipped … And it is especially the magazines that have taken their game from the start by providing copies of pay. Newspapers rely surf craze enhance their subscription offer which allows to find the newspaper on all media.

"Buy simple and painless"

In addition to revenue from advertising, some also hope to sell their content on the tablet. "People are willing to spend as long as the act of purchase is simple and painless, around € 0 my credit score.10 article," said William Multrier, which launched YouMag, an aggregator of content by topic, iPad . "The economy of the media on the net is made of small numbers." Ad rates have fallen "but the production costs of essays pure player more," Sire Cédric assumes, of Webedia. Clearly, traditional media will survive after a diet, tablets or not.

Especially as intermediaries try to capture this market. Several aggregators have joined the race. They propose a new reading experience. Flipboard, for example, appears as the contents recovered a magazine on social networks. But the media are wary of these intermediaries that undermine the unity of the mark (before they bought a newspaper and not an article or section). Moreover, "they are only useful for more widely distributed paid content. Otherwise, on the free items, they cannibalize our advertising revenue, "says does one group within the French ePresse Premium.

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