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Issue published May 31 2009 20 pages In this issue The National Scene ADAPTATION RATHER THAN A NEW COURSE The June European elections will be a test of support not only for the Strasbourg Parliament parties, but also for majorities and oppositions in the different EU countries. In France too the vote will have a considerable domestic political significance. But it is more likely to affect the opposition than the majority and Government – whose policies are unlikely to be changed by the election outcome. No doubt, there will be a Government reshuffle, and in the process at least a few important cabinet positions will change. Because the Ministers in change of Justice and Agriculture are standing for the Strasbourg seat, and are sure of winning it, they will have to be replaced. The occasion may serve for a wider reshuffle and is likely to provide the opportunity of for a new episode of ouverture, President Sarkozy’s policy of offering Government jobs to politicians traditionally close to the opposition. In recent weeks there has been much talk of former Socialist Education Minister Allègre as a candidate to join the Government. However, Prime Minister Fillon will stay and the change in the ministerial team, no matter how wide, will be solely an effort to invigorate the executive and the majority. It will not signal a policy shift. France's Agenda A survey of the context, background and current state of the main projects currently in Parliament and in the country: No deal on National Assembly rule changes. Hadopi bill becomes law, in the end. Protests force Government retreats on university. Autumn schedule for local Government bill. Senate cuts health reform bill down to size. Negotiators agree to postpone complementary pension changes. Government gives up the idea of imposing training finance rules. Compromise on Sunday trading. Companies and Sectors BNP Paribas achieves Fortis acquisition. PSA: new management rather than new strategy. Recent Data Five pages with the latest figures at the time of publication and the historical series for: GDP and components, industrial production, construction output, consumer purchases of manufactured goods, retail sales, inventory index, employment, unemployment, new vacancies, consumer prices, producer prices, imported raw material prices, monthly wages, unit labour costs, exports, imports, trade balance, the current account, the balance of State finances This issue is immediately availabe as a PDF download at the cost of £ 35. To download now click below Back to top   Issue published February 24 2009 20 pages In this issue The National Scene ADAPTATION RATHER THAN A NEW COURSE The programme with which Nicolas Sarkozy started his Presidency in the spring of 2008 could be summarised as a constant policy of reform aimed at producing an in-depth transformation of French economy and society, carried out in the context of an orthodox fiscal policy. If the reform programme represented a determination to move away from the ineffectiveness which had marked much of the Chirac presidency, the orthodox fiscal stance confirmed the approach which had been steadily followed in the previous legislature. State spending would be stable in real terms, the number of civil servants would be reduced by keeping hiring well below departures, and the deficit would be wiped out within a few years. True, one of the first economic decisions of the new President was to postpone the equilibrium target by two years, but that was meant as an adaptation of policy to a worsening economic environment, rather than as a change of direction. The present financial and economic crisis challenges both points. France's Agenda A survey of the context, background and current state of the main projects currently in Parliament and in the country: Socialists seethe at Parliamentary rule change proposals. Balladur committee proposes local government reform Unedic agreement weathers wide Union disapproval. Government assessing training compromise National Assembly begins health reform debate. Unanimity for Grenelle environmental bill. Complementary pension talks confronted by gloomy forecasts. Companies and Sectors Brussels greenlights car support plan. State invites itself to bank merger. Alstom closer to realising Areva ambitions. Recent Data Five pages with the latest figures at the time of publication and the historical series for: GDP and components, industrial production, construction output, consumer purchases of manufactured goods, retail sales, inventory index, employment, unemployment, new vacancies, consumer prices, producer prices, imported raw material prices, monthly wages, unit labour costs, exports, imports, trade balance, the current account, the balance of State finances This issue is immediately availabe as a PDF download at the cost of £ 35. To download now click below Back to top   Issue published May 31 2008 20 pages In this issue The National Scene A BROAD FRONT Sarkozy’s problem is not that he faced such a tough challenge, but that he decided to deal with it with a wide range of comparatively modest interventions, rather than with some incisive but limited choices. Worse still, he initiated and announced innumerable other reforms which were not immediately needed. France's Agenda A survey of the context, background and current state of the main projects currently in Parliament and in the country: The background Constituional reform: a precarious balance. Majoirty obtains LME amendments. Pension contribution period set to rise. Industrial relations reform set to uproot 35 hour week. The next stage Companies and Sectors Size of CASA rights issue puzzles. EDF without rivals for British Energy Recent Data Five pages with the latest figures at the time of publication and the historical series for: GDP and components, industrial production, construction output, consumer purchases of manufactured goods, retail sales, inventory index, employment, unemployment, new vacancies, consumer prices, producer prices, imported raw material prices, monthly wages, unit labour costs, exports, imports, trade balance, the current account, the balance of State finances This issue is immediately availabe as a PDF download at the cost of £ 35. To download now click below Back to top   Issue April 18 2008 26 pages In this issue The National Scene FROM STATESMAN TO FEVERED TINKERER As he nears completion of his first year in office, President Sarkozy must reckon with a big setback at the March local elections, a fall below 40% of his approval rate and open dissatisfaction within the Parliamentary majority. Yet, none of these is the real problem. What is truly worrying is that Sarkozy is paying such a high price without gaining anything in return. . France's Agenda A survey of the context, background and current state of the main projects currently in Parliament and in the country: The story so far… Ministers downgrade ambitions on labour market. Socialists curb Sarkozy’s constitutional reform ambitions. Just a dose of Attali. Pensions: how to sweeten the pill. Breaking the mould on Union representativity. A full pipeline. Companies and Sectors Pitesti strike highlights Renault’s vulnerability. Much at stake with Livret A reform. US breakthrough fails to prevent EADS dive. Recent Data Five pages with the latest figures at the time of publication and the historical series for: GDP and components, industrial production, construction output, consumer purchases of manufactured goods, retail sales, inventory index, employment, unemployment, new vacancies, consumer prices, producer prices, imported raw material prices, monthly wages, unit labour costs, exports, imports, trade balance, the current account, the balance of State finances This issue is immediately availabe as a PDF download at the cost of £ 35. To download now click below Back to top   Issue November 11 2007 20 pages In this issue The National Scene OBLIGED TO WIN For president Sarkozy winning the battle for pension reform will be just an initial step of a long journey. But losing could easily compromise the entire Presidency. France's Agenda A survey of the context, background and current state of the main projects currently in Parliament and in the country: Budget debate reduced to side show Balladur committee rejects Balladur line on constitution Victory on special regimes vital for pension reform Competition, consumers and producers: striking a balance, making compromises Hesitations on Social VAT Social Security Budget gets lukewarm majority support A proliferation of negotiations Companies and Sectors Alcatel Lucent admits problems but confirms strategy New fears for EADS Suez seeks to preserve utility link Journalists strike against Arnault’s arrival as colleagues protest his departure Recent Data Five pages with the latest figures at the time of publication and the historical series for: GDP and components, industrial production, construction output, consumer purchases of manufactured goods, retail sales, inventory index, employment, unemployment, new vacancies, consumer prices, producer prices, imported raw material prices, monthly wages, unit labour costs, exports, imports, trade balance, the current account, the balance of State finances This issue is immediately availabe as a PDF download at the cost of £ 25. 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