World and National News

On the sidelines of the strike of hostesses and stewards of Air France since Saturday, the Air France-KLM is struggling along on its activity and its development policy. In this context, the current social movement that will last until Wednesday could further strain the finances of the parent: in 2007, again at All Saints, a strike had caused major disruption and cost him no less 60 million euros.

Now the group through a period of turbulence. Consequence of the current economic gloom, it may well issue a warning on its results in the publication of its accounts for the period April to September under November 9, said BFM Business on Tuesday. Now he hoped to bounce back after suffering a net loss of 197 million euros over the period April to June 2011.In the wake of a meeting with management, a union then estimated at Figaro that "if growth was not at the meeting, a plan for removal on 5000 to 10,000 jobs would be to fear cash advance now."

Undermined by these uncertainties and the lack of clear prospects, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon was forced to resign last week. The directors then indicated that "he was committed to stop the evolution towards a concrete structure group Air France-KLM, to focus on recovery required the two companies." Again in control group, Jean-Cyril Spinetta immediately set the tone by giving the task to Alexander Juniac new CEO of the group, "to respond to the emergence of new competitors, particularly low cost."

Still, this strategy could exacerbate climate distrust between labor and management.

All will be played Wednesday. "No decision will be announced following the summit of the euro area, which takes place this Sunday late afternoon in Brussels, although work is progressing well," said Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel in a joint press conference after a meeting of leaders of 27 countries of the European Union. French President and German Chancellor said that the work "techniques" were still to be completed by the new top of the euro area on Wednesday. The summit will be preceded by another meeting of twenty-seven, they said. "Work is progressing well on the banks of the support fund and the potential use of this fund. The assumptions are tightening and a broad agreement is taking shape. "

On the issue of Greece, progress, assured the leaders without giving details.The stabilization of the indebted country will pass through international loans and additional losses of creditor banks in the country. Europe the figure to at least 50%. According to the report of the troika (representatives of the EU, the ECB and the IMF), the discount should be 60% to maintain unchanged the envelope of € 109 billion promised to Greece, as part a second rescue plan officially recorded on July 21.

Main stumbling block between Paris and Berlin, the transformation of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) in the bank, which insisted on France, finally does more of the options considered by the finance ministers of the single currency. The idea was that the Paris Fund bank can borrow from the European Central Bank. "The two options still on the table to strengthen the EFSF do not involve the ECB," confirmed the German Chancellor.This leaves two options: either the mechanism acts as a partial insurance of the public debt of troubled countries or the IMF is expected to increase its participation in the scheme.

In another area, "the work is progressing well on the recapitalization of banks," said Nicolas Sarkozy, again without providing details on the proposed solutions. Countries of the European Union discussed a budget from 107 to 108 billion euros at the meeting of finance ministers on Saturday night. "Banks must find the money markets," stressed Angela Merkel.

Finally, the pressure on Italy is maximum. The two leaders urged the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, with whom they met ahead of the summit, for it to decisively implement a program of growth and debt reduction Alps no fax payday advances."I hope that decisions will be taken (…) Italy is a major economic force but it has a very high public debt should be reduced in a credible manner in the years to come," says Angela Merkel . Nicolas Sarkozy has outbid by saying that Paris and Berlin were "confident sense of responsibility of all the Italian authorities' political, financial and economic."

"Do not repeat the mistakes of the past"

"We must work differently in the future," said Angela Merkel. German Chancellor said that we should not "repeat the mistakes of the past." The problem of the euro area far exceeds that of Greece, she hammered, emphasizing the need for each country to conduct "a tighter fiscal policy."The President of the European Union, Herman Van Rompuy, confirmed on Sunday that the EU treaty could be modified to improve the functioning of the euro area. "The aim is to deepen our economic union and strengthen our fiscal discipline," he said.

Europe is facing economically to "serious challenges", said Herman Van Rompuy, at the opening of the EU summit this morning. He felt that the decisions to be taken by EU leaders to deal with were "perhaps the most important" they've ever had to face the financial crisis. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, had also felt it was "time" to take "decisive and effective." "It is clear that the crisis (debt) is not Greek. This is a European crisis, "he judged.

For its part, the Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme had tried hard not announce anything at all on Sunday, in light of market pressure. "It is essential for tomorrow morning at the opening of markets, we have made sufficient progress so as not to jeopardize the credibility of the euro area," he said. Same story for the European partners have not adopted the single currency, which are concerned about the fallout from the debt crisis. "The crisis in the euro area is being extended to all our economies, including that of Great Britain ', launched the British Prime Minister David Cameron.

(With agencies)

ALSO READ:

"CRISIS SPECIAL – Fear of debt

"The EU is considering 108 billion to bail out banks

"Euro: Merkel will buy time until Wednesday

"GRAPHICS – The crisis of the euro, or the history of contagion

Nicolas Sarkozy could not miss the start of construction of the first TGV in Africa and the Arab world. Especially if a French company, Alstom, in this case is at work. The French president will then visit a few hours to Tangier on Thursday to give the start of construction of the train Tangier-Rabat-Casablanca.

After a ceremony at the station in Tangier, Nicolas Sarkozy will hold talks with King Mohammed VI at the Palais Marshan, during a face-to-head followed by a working lunch. Then he will speak to the press at 17:15 Paris time.

One site to 3 billion

Four years after the announcement, the work can begin. This project should permit the entry into service in 2015 a train up to 320 km / h linking Tangier to Casablanca and reducing by more than half the travel time between the two cities, which will go from 4:45 to 2:10.

Its cost is estimated at 33 billion dirhams by the Moroccan government (3 billion euros) and will be partly financed by loans to prime French, Moroccan funds from Gulf countries and the Arab Fund for Economic Development and social. The European Investment Bank (EIB) was, she refused a competition of 400 million euros, which complicated the closure of the project.

Moroccan media while Germany suspected of having deposited its veto against the funding because of the choice of the Moroccan government to favor the French Alstom in its German competitor Siemens business card.The French group, which had previously exported its expertise in high-speed train in South Korea, Spain and Italy to Morocco will provide 14 trains of eight cars, for $ 400 million euros.

Economic projects

While the French government scans the remark, some commentators believe that the choice of Alstom was used to compensate the loss by France of a contract to supply fighter jets to the Moroccan Air Force, who had to prefer the F16 U.S. Rafale from Dassault Aviation.

This episode now seems forgotten. Nicolas Sarkozy, focused on investment opportunities represented by Morocco, has chosen to take with him two ministers, Eric Besson for Industry and Thierry Mariani for Transport and Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Pierre Lellouche.

The Hexagon is the first partner of the Sharifi kingdom, providing 15% of imports from a country with an average growth of 4.5% to 5% for ten years, accounting for 21.5% of its exports, and employing 100,000 Moroccans in its 750 subsidiaries. Other large projects include the creation time of a Renault factory "zero pollution" with Veolia Environment, which should become operational in early 2012 or Tanger-Med, a huge industrial center and port that participates in a Bouygues consortium.

ALSO READ:

"Alstom wants to strengthen Turkey

"Alstom rail agreement in size with China

A new week high voltage for Greece and the euro area. In fact, Sunday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that a delegation will travel to Athens this week to determine whether or not the country can benefit from the sixth round of eight billion euros of the loan in May 2010 , aid became vital for the country. The CEO of the institution, Christine Lagarde, has indeed met the Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Sunday to discuss the conditions for the return of the IMF in the country to complete the fifth audit of the Greek economic program. The mission "will certainly place this week," said Fund.

In parallel, Evangelos Venizelos, the Greek finance minister, yesterday met with Jean-Claude Trichet, head of the ECB, to negotiate a restructuring of the Greek debt at a discount of between 40% and 50%.The minister said that "there is no alternative to restructuring." The latter has also expressed confidence the outcome of the vote in parliament of the new austerity plan, condition of the granting of new loans of the troika, because according to him "which member will take responsibility to lead Greece to failure to pay? ". A view shared by the French Minister for European Affairs, Jean Leonetti, who said Sunday that "Greece will avoid bankruptcy because it is the interest of the Greek state, the Greek people and is the interest of us all.If Greece were to fail tomorrow, it would cost more than if it did not go bankrupt, "he said on Radio France International.

The rising social discontent in Greece

The Heads of State and Government in July found an agreement to rescue Greece and broaden the scope of intervention of the relief fund of the zone (EFSF), including providing it with an instrument enabling it to market purchases of debt of states in difficulty. This agreement is being ratified by 17 national parliaments in the area. The vote of Germany, the country is the biggest contributor to EU aid plans appear on track.In a television interview Sunday night, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has indeed shown the outcome of the confidence vote scheduled Thursday in the Bundestag.

But Greece will probably have to wait beyond the holding of a Eurogroup meeting on Oct. 3 before a decision on the release of the next tranche of aid. "Given the delay by the Troika mission (IMF, ECB and European Commission), I do not think that the next meeting of the Eurogroup, October 3, a decision on the sixth installment," said Sunday Washington Deputy German Finance Minister, Jörg Asmussen

In addition, the rising social discontent in Greece.Further strikes are planned next week before a general strike on October 19.

ALSO READ:

"The G20 mobilized to reassure the financial world

"Europeans are ready to strengthen the Stability Fund

After a lull last week, financial markets have plunged sharply Monday. Concerned about the lack of strong commitment of European finance ministers to support Greece, this weekend, and surprised by the tensions between Europe and the United States, investors are more likely to feel inevitable a lack of Athens. In Paris the CAC 40 index fell 3% while the German Dax gave up 2.83%. Again, it is the banks that were hardest attack.

The declaration on Sunday night on TF1, former IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, for whom "we must accept to recognize that we must take his loss" of Greece was the effect of bomb."Hearing that DSK four months ago the IMF also urged new funding for Greece say the exact opposite now shows how events have turned," says Bruno Cavalier, chief economist at Oddo Securities. For the latter, there is a "real tired of the financial markets who want to wipe the slate clean once and for all to get back on firmer footing."

A feeling evident in a survey by Barclays Capital from major global investors. They are 24% think that the current crisis will lead to a breakup of the euro area. Over 60% of them believe that the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) will be insufficient to resolve the debt crisis.Although little scientific significance, such polls show the amount of work to be done now to reassure the magnitude of the crisis.

Bercy wants to reassure

France, Monday it is used by the voice of its Minister of Economy Baroin for which a default of Greece "is not a working hypothesis." At Bercy we stick to the same line of defense when all European countries have adopted the plan of July 21, that is to say by mid-October, the bleeding will be stopped.Reasoning that is opposed to that of economists who say a failure Greek is becoming increasingly economically rational, "If they want to avoid a failure of control, the Troika and the European Union in particular have an incentive to relieve pressure on the objectives short-term budget of Athens by insisting on the implementation of structural reforms to boost potential growth in Greece, "say economists at Morgan Stanley.

Rather than a sudden failure, we must consider a debt restructuring in the short term, implying a lower repayment installments provided for in the coming months to ease the Greek public finances.The major risk of such a scenario is a contagion to other peripheral countries "can be avoided if the ECB goes on the front lines and discourage speculation against the Italian debt by buying heavily," said Bruno Cavalier.

Creditors on deck

In this climate of growing skepticism, Greece somehow continues the implementation of the agreement of July 21, which passes through the participation of private creditors. Artisans of the device designed to reshape 192 billion euros of Greek claims STRIPS to complete the offer in October. "This operation can not be done in a snap. It is very complex technically and supports many constraints, "insists Fabrice Faure-Dauphin, a partner with law firm Allen & Overy, the Board of the operation.And insist: "If Greece were to miss a deadline, it does not fundamentally change the rules and would not offer more solutions to the problem."

The only good news, the first signals of the voluntary contribution of banks and other insurers are quite positive. While Greece requires a 90% interest in the exchange, some suggested a rate of 75% or 80%, almost unexpected. At these levels, the operation would have every opportunity to move forward. "A contribution of 85% instead of 90% needs to find an additional 8.5 billion euros," analysts calculate Barclays Capital.If Athens was a survey of creditors, the real success of the operation will not be known until after the formal offer proposal issued by the Greek government.

Athens without a loan repayment expected before December, this still leaves him time for both to continue its negotiations with the Troika and to carry out – or not – this massive debt restructuring for its crucial public finances. Meanwhile, the markets do not.

LE FIGARO – You met President Nicolas Sarkozy Friday. What is your analysis of the crisis in the euro area?

Pedro Passos Coelho – Our views are converging. We must accelerate the process of ratifying the plan in July that the EU speaks with one voice. It is essential to avoid systemic risk. How to convince the markets where European leaders expressed doubts on the future of Europe! It must be absolutely avoided, it is better to be silent than to sow doubt.

Would it be better to organize the failure of Greece?

I refuse to make predictions, I'd rather be patient and hope that Athens takes its objectives and carry out sustainable reforms. If Greece dark, the entire EU to be at risk.We need to help Greece and at the same time strengthen the EU, to establish a more integrated economic government which deals with taxation.

What are the consequences in Portugal of the deepening crisis in Greece?

Portugal is in a vulnerable position vis-à-vis Greece. If the crisis worsens, it will make our recovery process more difficult. My vision is very pragmatic: we must make every effort to carry out reforms and fiscal consolidation.

Economists doubt your ability to meet commitments on fiscal 2011?

The aid package was negotiated before the elections. Since then we have taken additional steps preventive and our calendar of spending cuts is more ambitious. We have the political support for it.We will keep the target of 5.9% of GDP deficit in 2011 and are targeting a primary surplus (excluding debt service) in 2012 for a balanced budget in 2015 and an external account deficit by half a point against 9% last year. In addition to the expenditure side and the privatization plan, we will conduct several structural reforms, justice, labor market, too rigid regulation. We will create a board of public finances, which will be independent to ensure full transparency in the management of the state.

Where are you from privatization?

We are to remove the golden shares held by the state in public enterprises, then we will begin the process of privatization in the energy sector by mid-November, by selling the companies for electricity, gas and oil, which Galp.We will then proceed to the privatization of the airline TAP, the airport manager Ana, mail, freight rail and radio station public television RTP. The whole process should be finalized in late 2012, the objective to recover at least 7 billion euros.

Have you received expressions of investors?

Yes, many, from the European economies but also emerging countries, Brazil, China and several Arab countries easy payday loans.The president of the National Bank of Economic Development in Brazil (BNDSE), the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, Lula and his predecessor have already come to us with investor interest in Brazil.

This interest is there also for the government debt?

The purchase of public debt is subject to specific rules, but the important thing is that there were demonstrations of confidence in this government about the quality of Portuguese debt.

Will you create a wealth tax, such as Spain prepares to do?

We refused this solution, not to discourage large fortunes to come and settle in Portugal. However, we have created a special tax of solidarity that will help tackle the portion of 2.5% marginal tax on income that will affect higher wages and will last two years.We also created an additional tax of 3% on business profits in excess of 1.5 million euros, also for two years. The purpose of these taxes is not to create an additional revenue but to allow us to finance social assistance measures for families hit hardest by the crisis.

What are these measures?

They are primarily related to housing. Households that can no longer repay their debts to buy their apartments can contact their bank for the loan to be converted into low-rent, which will relieve the financially while allowing them to remain at home. Similarly, those earning up to one and a half times the minimum wage benefit from using public transport.In addition, if we were forced to raise to 23% VAT on gas and electricity, we have created a social tariff for the poorest.

How to boost growth given that domestic demand will remain very low?

It is true that the austerity has a recessive effect. The middle class will suffer significant sacrifices. That's the ticket out of the crisis, the price of a country that has spent too long. Domestic demand will have a negative contribution to the end of 2012. This will be offset by exports that are doing well. The adjustment must be done very quickly to ensure the financing of the economy. Privatization are important to increase the availability of cash to help recapitalize banks. This will improve competitiveness, greater openness and internationalization of our economy.The State abound 12 billion euros in guarantees for banks.

Competitiveness remains the weak point of Portugal?

Hence the urgent need to launch structural reforms, which should have been done in conjunction with the entry into the EU. The country in several sectors – textiles, information technology, biotechnology … the high performers.

Arrived at the airport Charles de Gaulle airport, passengers will soon have the choice between the RER, bus, taxi and perhaps … the helicopter. In March 2011, the leadership of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris (CCIP) conducted a survey of leaders of member companies of the Association of users of Defence (AUDE) on their vision of what transportation . The results of the study, published on the site of the PICC last July show that the conditions for development of helicopter transportation in the Greater Paris should be improved. The French capital would become more attractive to foreign businessmen.In addition, the strengthening of the pole-Dugny Air Show, with the arrival in 2014 of the activities of Eurocopter and installation of new research and development of EADS has a ripple effect for the aerospace Ile-de-France, to create new jobs. "It is therefore necessary to provide rapid and efficient links between the international arrivals (airports) and the business districts of the Ile-de-France," the report concludes.

The CCIP has been calling for the creation of a 1997 helicopter service business districts of Greater Paris, especially the defense. But despite the promises of the Secretary of State for Transport Dominique Busserau "to ensure more balanced coverage of the Paris region by helicopter," the number of helicopter movements on the only heliport in Paris in Issy-les-Moulineaux has continued to decline.It was divided by 3 compared to 1990. And it's not finished. Barely reaching 10,000 flights per year at present, the number of trips by helicopter should be reduced to 3,000 by 2014, with only the keeping missions "public service" (EMS, military flights …).

Two new helipads in Paris?

However, the state would already floor on new sites asked. According to reports in Le Parisien, the government is studying various implantation sites for new heliports in Paris and the suburbs.It would thus be considered to implement a site near La Defense and other loops in the Seine-Nord, Gennevilliers and to Villeneuve-la-Garenne.

The project, which emanates from the Secretary of State for Transport, however, would be in total contradiction with the plans against noise, developed by the associations of environmental protection of the Ile de France and the program of sustainable development as mayor of Paris. Companies located in Defence do not support this idea, but do not criticize. "Our staff moves only by car, and it is not planned to spend on travel by helicopter," says one at GDF Suez, the company that has a tower in La Defense.

A project that builds on the experience of major international cities

Although very clean, the air services to major business centers is already highly developed in New York and Tokyo.To avoid traffic jams, the helicopter is a preferred means of transport used on Wall Street, which are well under ten minutes to get from JFK and Newark airports. The island of Manhattan, with four areas of raised, is averaging 37,000 helicopter movements per year.

In recent years, the city of Tokyo began to lose its appeal because of the distances are too long between Narita Airport and the business center of the Japanese capital. Many companies then decided to move their Asian subsidiaries to Hong Kong and Singapore. To facilitate travel between the airport and central Tokyo, the prefecture of the city has decided to introduce in 2009 a service of air service.The routes of some twenty minutes, supported by Mori Building City Air Services, a subsidiary of a real estate group Mori Building were so charged up to 500,000 yen (about 4580 euros) by helicopter, for 4 passengers.

But the country that exceeds all records for the business aviation market is Brazil. The country has seen its traffic increase of private planes and helicopters from 30% in one year. The city of Sao Paolo, has already surpassed New York and Tokyo, with 593 aircraft, flying over the metropolis daily. Helimarte society, the more important hire of helicopters in Sao Paolo, has seen its business grow by 20% in 2010. In addition to saving time, the helicopter remains in Brazil means of transport the safest for people with very high incomes. Nearly one hundred people were kidnapped while traveling by car in Sao Paolo last year.

Attackers threw their grappling hooks on globalization and trade well-oiled seizing between major economic powers. They are however only a few thousand around the world. Their method: ransom kidnapping of sailors and extracted the major world trade. They earn roughly a few hundred million dollars a year. But they cost between $ 7 and $ 12 billion into the global economy, according to the NGO Oceans Beyond piracy (OBP).

Nigeria rebel pirates, looters occasional Asian Seas … Of all the pirates around the globe, the Somalis are by far the most dangerous and costly. And for good reason, "with Kalashnikovs and rocket launchers rustic, they disrupt traffic in the Indian Ocean between Asia, the Middle East and Europe, representing 12% of world trade and 7% of flows hydrocarbons, "said Bertrand Monnet *, Professor of Risk Management at EDHEC criminals.In 2010, 238 million dollars in ransom was paid to the brigands of the sea in the Horn of Africa.

Once is not custom, financial markets can thank a rating agency. As Italy prepares to implement its austerity plan of 40 billion, Fitch believes in a note that the country should keep its deficit reduction targets.

But it is especially reassuring Ben Bernanke that allow the Cac 40 start from the front. The president of the U.S. central bank said the Fed was ready to act if the U.S. economy was weakening. Tuesday night in the U.S., the Fed has shown itself divided on the solutions to boost economic recovery.

Having procrastinated until now, the Cac 40 shows a slight gain of 0.30% to 3785.53 points. Same atmosphere on other major European markets: the FTSE-100 index advances 0.35% at 5889.22 points and the DAX index gained 1.20% to 7260.49 points.

Caution remains the watchword.Aware of the seriousness of the situation, officials confirmed on Tuesday their "absolute determination to maintain financial stability in the euro area."

Lower start-ups in France

On the macroeconomic front, China's GDP has slowed slightly to 9.5% in the second quarter, less than analysts expected (9.4%). Retail sales in the country rose 16.8% in the first half and industrial production gained 14.3%.

In Europe, industrial production in the euro area rose by 0.1% in May from the previous month, according to data released Wednesday by the EU statistics office Eurostat.It increased by 0.4% in the entire European Union.

In France, the number of start-ups fell by 10.8% in June from the previous month, after a sharp rise in May (29%) announced Wednesday the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE) . This brings out the creative self-entrepreneurs, adjusted for seasonal variations and the number of working days.

As for currencies, the euro has stabilized at 1.4061 dollars against 1.3974 dollars late Tuesday while oil drops. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for August delivery lost 41 cents to 97 on line pay day loans.02 dollars.Credit Agricole gained 0.84% ​​to 8.99 euros, Societe Generale of 0.19% to 36.20 euros, BNP Paribas 1.17% to 47.50 euros.

L'Oreal: -3.70% to 84.64 euros (largest decrease in the ACC)

The group announced a revenue increase limited to only 0.9% in the second quarter due to lower sales in North America and Eastern Europe.

Suez Environnement: + 1.48% to 13.39 euros

The group announced Wednesday it had obtained the renewal of its water contracts with the towns of Agde (Hérault) and Orléans (Loiret) and winning the part of the urban community of Rouen (Seine- Maritime).

Michelin: + 0.68% to 64.68 euros

The group has set up a multi-currency revolving credit facility of 1.5 billion euros.

Total: -0.40% to 38.67 euros

The oil company confirmed opt-out of the Consolidated Global Profit (BMC), which does not provide any tax benefit.

Sanofi: + 0.02% to 54.22 euros

The group and the American Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced Tuesday that their experimental treatment Sarilumab allowed to show signs of improvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Auplata: + 1.13% to 2.68 euros

The group hopes to produce up to one ton of gold per year by 2014-2015 with a new plant is expected to increase the performance of its mines in Guyana, its president said Tuesday.

Belvedere: + 3.64% to 53.22 euros

The group of spirits and its CEO have been ordered to pay substantial fines by the disciplinary committee of the AMF for failing to inform the public and also for price manipulation in relation Rouvroy Jacques.

Tuto4PC. com Group: -6% to 5.95 euros

The title of Tuto4PC. com Group, the French specialist in display advertising on the internet was changing down sharply Wednesday morning on the first day of its listing on the Paris Stock Exchange, having already faced the warmth of investors before its introduction.

Operation Seduction. For its 27th edition of the Cinema Festival, the National Federation of French cinema (FNCF) wants to give a "spotlight" on the cinema, in the words of Marc-Olivier Sebbag, its general secretary. He recalled that after a very good year in 2010 "where more than 206 million viewers" went to the cinemas, attendance was "very bad" at the beginning of the year. According to figures from the National Film Centre, it appears down 11% from January to May over the same period last year, to nearly 98 million entries.And "even if there was a catch-up from mid-May, since the decline reached 15% over the period from January to April," said Marc-Olivier Sebbag.

In this context, the Festival Theatre which offers sessions to 3 euros from June 25-July 1, is seen as a weapon of choice by professionals to attract new visitors to their rooms. Seen as a catalyst, the event is to allow "to start the movies until September," said the secretary general of FNCF. For "the film calls the film" Jean-Marie Dura abounds, general manager in charge of the network of UGC, which account 350 rooms in France. Clearly, the increase in attendance expected to help promote summer outings, and his battalion of blockbusters such as the latest installment in the Harry Potter saga.And to encourage a little more viewers to come back, UGC decided during the week to double the reward points offered for each session that can take advantage of free places to run.

No World Cup this year

In addition, Jean-Marie Dura setting the combination of early summer, coupled with a "weather appropriate" (or ideally, a time to pig!), For the edition to be profitable. Confident, he said that unlike last year, "the event does not fall in the middle of World Cup," considering that the football was then diverted most of the rooms moviegoers.

Programming side, nothing was left to chance, since movies for youth were clearly preferred.Are expected, among other things, the outputs of Kung Fu Panda 2 (with the voices of Angelina Jolie and Dustin Hoffman) and student Ducobu, a comedy by Philip Chauveron with comedian Elie Semoun-star, "who looks very strong, "says the director of UGC.

The "catching up" began

Marc-Olivier Sebbag, the bad beginning of the year can be explained by "an offer may be less important than last year." "The month of January was not good, take the example of the general secretary of the FNCF.But keep in mind at the same time last year, we had Avatar … "Knowing that the James Cameron blockbuster was paid for the luxury of breaking the record revenues of Titanic, having cashed in fact almost $ 1.9 billion worldwide, about 15 million admissions in France.

However, "Avatar should not forget that we had the same period a series of films that have 3 to 5 million tickets," insists Jean-Marie Dura. The Chief UGC cites Little White Lies (5.3 million admissions), Inception (4.9 million), or Toy Story 3 (4.3 million). According to him, the secret of a good year lies not in the success of one or two blockbusters, but rather "a large bouquet of films that are each their audience," said he. Now from this point of view, a "catching up" the beginning of the year dying "began in mid-May," he argues.And, thanks to movies like Fast and Furious 5, Thor, or the Family Pirates of the Caribbean 5. "Since January, we are more than 6% in admissions compared to last year," he says.

Similarly, the industry can count on the second installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Highly anticipated, the film has already attracted the enthusiasm of fans.On eBay, tickets to a preview screening at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, in the presence of the film crew, are trading up 54 euro instead, more than double the original price (25 euros) .

Testimonials – What do you think of the film festival? More generally, are you satisfied with the film offers at the moment? Tell us about your experiences in the comments below or email temoin@lefigaro.fr.

ALSO READ:

"Record revenues for European cinemas in 2010

"Incidents in the cinema: an ordeal for relatives

"Fnac Allociné and engage in e-cinema ticket