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Samedi 12 septembre 2015, dans le port de Pozzallo en Italie, le patrouilleur de haute mer (PHM) COMMANDANT BOUAN procède au débarquement des personnes secourues la veille. Sur place, les naufragés sont pris en charge par les secours et l'administration italienne.

« Le temps », écrivait Jean Cocteau, « est de l'éternité pliée ». Formule séduisante mais inexacte puisque l'éternité nie le temps et ne l'allonge ni ne le plie. Il n'en demeure pas moins qu'il existe des plis du temps, non pas tant ceux de la chronologie ou de la mesure du temps que ceux de l'historien ou simplement de ceux qui le vivent. Ces plis ajoutent une dimension qualitative, un sens de la période et du moment au parcours monocorde de la flèche du temps. C'est en quelque sorte une variante subjective, sociale, politique et intellectuelle de la relativité – la théorie scientifique qui domine le XXe siècle – que cette approche différentielle de phases, de moments et de rythmes, vécus aussi bien collectivement qu'individuellement – à l'instar d'un rythme musical, qui pour respecter la rigueur plate du métronome n'en construit pas moins un drame, avec son début, sa péripétie, sa conclusion. (...)

« J 'ai tué beaucoup de gens avec la kalachnikov (ou kalach) et me suis bien camé avec kanif et les autres drogues dures » . Voici comment débute le récit de Birahima, jeune garçon d'une dizaine d'années qui conte sa vie d'enfant-soldat à travers les guerres civiles en Afrique dans les années 1990. Au cours de son périple, il traversera ainsi le Libéria et la Sierra Leone. Le parcours de Komona, jeune fille de douze ans enlevée par un groupe rebelle en Afrique, est similaire. Elle raconte l'histoire d'une ancienne enfant-soldat sur le point de donner la vie. A son futur enfant, elle murmure : « Ecoute bien quand je te raconte mon histoire parce que c'est important que tu comprennes c'est quoi la vie de ta maman avant que tu sortes de mon ventre. Parce que quand tu vas sortir, je ne sais pas si le Bon Dieu va me donner assez la force pour t'aimer ». Ces quelques mots révèlent, dès le début, l'une des réalités des conflits armés concernant le traitement réservé aux filles. (...)

Le long des ruelles pavées de La Havane, un touriste court derrière une mélodie. Tierno, alias El Palenque, natif de Guinée, installé à Paris, mais dont les racines maternelles sont cubaines, espère qu'en retrouvant l'origine de la chanson qui lui trotte entre les oreilles depuis l'enfance, il (...) / Afrique, Caraïbes, Culture, Histoire, Littérature, Cuba, Guinée - 2015/09

Good afternoon and welcome to this press conference. We briefly discussed the economic situation in the Eurozone, I will let Commissioner Moscovici say more about that. We had a follow-up discussion on the issue of structural reforms, in particular on the tax wedge on labour, which is becoming a test case for us on how we can strengthen our cooperation in the field of structural reforms, how can we push the reform agenda jointly in the Eurozone.

Today we discussed and have decided to develop the instrument of benchmarking for the tax burden on labour to follow and stimulate developments in countries of the Eurozone on this issue.

It has to do with competitiveness and the functioning of the labour market, and there is a lot of potential there for us to improve. We will both benchmark on the EU average and also closely follow how we do in relation to the OECD average. There is a statement which will be distributed to you on the issue of benchmarking structural reforms and specifically on the tax wedge on labour, so I will refer for time's sake to that statement.

On Greece, we took stock of latest developments, we were informed by our Greek colleague, who is of course part of the caretaker government. He confirmed that preparatory work of the caretaker government is thus continuing and that implementation, for as far as it does not require further parliamentary decisions, will continue. All of that, of course, in order to lose as little time as possible. From our perspective we can of course only respect the democratic process and will await the election results. Timely implementation of reforms and next steps to take, after the election, is of course crucial and time is limited.

Then on Cyprus, the institutions briefed us on the positive outcome of the seventh review. We all welcomed the progress. Economic recovery is under way in Cyprus and it's actually stronger than was expected at the beginning of the year, picking up quite strong fiscal outturns also above forecast, and the determined reform implementation by the Cypriot government is bearing its fruit.

We endorsed in principle an updated MoU and the eighth ESM disbursement, perhaps Klaus can say more on that. National procedures can be launched on this and hopefully we will have formal approval early in October.

Finally on the Banking Union, the Commission very sternly spoked to us on the implementation process of both BRRD and the IGA. Luckily, all ministers could report progress on this. Progress is being made in different countries; only last week in the Netherlands, parliament agreed to the BRRD, and the IGA was also ratified in the senate, so we are also doing our part. This is also the case in other member states and it's crucial of course because these elements need to be fully operational on the 1st of January 2016.

Those were the key issues for me for now. Thanks for your attention and I pass the floor to Commissioner Moscovici and MD Regling.

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Az eddiginél strukturáltabb párbeszédre van szükség az EU-n belül a gazdasági és monetáris unió további mélyítésének az eurózónán kívüli kilenc tagállamra gyakorolt hatásairól – értettek egyet a kérdésről tartott többórás szombati informális vitán a 28 EU-tagállam pénzügyminiszterei.

Moins d'une heure après l'annonce de la démission du gouvernement égyptien, le ministre du Pétrole a été chargé, samedi, de former un nouveau cabinet. Une décision qui intervient également en plein scandale de corruption visant un politique.

Je me rends compte de la parenté de deux mots clefs de notre époque : ceux de progrès et de croissance. Ils ont de profonds liens et pourtant leur signification s'érode...

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Le "progrès" est le plus ancien. Apparu dès les Lumières, il prit toute sa signification à partir de la Révolution française puis de la révolution industrielle du XIX° siècle. Suivant Auguste Comte, le progrès devait devenir l'objet d'une nouvelle religion. Mais il ne s’agit pas simplement d'un progrès technique, il s'accompagnait également d'un progrès social, économique et surtout politique. La vie serait meilleure, les lendemains chanteraient, l'humanité marchait vers un horizon préférable à l'existence du moment. Au fond, point n'était plus besoin de religion et notamment d'une religion promettant résurrection et paradis puisque désormais on pouvait le bâtir sur terre.

Deux siècles plus tard, une telle promesse n'emporte plus l'adhésion. Auschwitz est passé par là, la pollution aussi. Personne ne remarque l'accroissement général du niveau de vie et la révolution cyber, ultime révolution industrielle et anthropologique, ne suscite guère de débats que chez quelques passionnés. La lassitude submerge tout.

Entre temps, un autre mot a remplacé ce progrès trop général pour convaincre encore. IL s'agit de la croissance. Cet ingrédient disparu, ce Moby Dick des économies essoufflées, ce carburant d'autant plus rêvé qu'il appartient désormais au passé, cette croissance a longtemps joué les offices du progrès. Grâce à la croissance, tout devait mieux aller, le niveau de vie augmenter, le chômage baisser. Oh! on est certes loin du mirage universel du progrès, la croissance est beaucoup plus petite bourgeoise et utilitaire, elle est le carburant magique après lequel on court, comme les naufragés post-Apocalypse de Mad Max 2. On a longtemps craint une pénurie de pétrole, nous voici en pénurie de croissance.

Mais toujours le même ressort, celui de cette marche dynamique et ascensionnelle. Au point qu'à écouter certains, on discerne des accents proto-religieux dans la façon qu'ils ont de prononcer "croissance", évoquant avec respect le nom d'une divinité mystérieuse et sacrée dont on espère l'incarnation.

Je force bien sûr le trait mais constate également que la "croissance" a remplacé le "progrès" dans le discours public, celui qui nous promet un mécanisme extérieur qui nous emporterait collectivement vers un futur meilleur, discours thaumaturge qui nous permet de supporter les maux du moment.

Incantatoire et éloigné du réel ?

O. Kempf

The Eurogroup welcomes the successful conclusion of the seventh review mission in the context of Cyprus' macroeconomic adjustment programme, which took place in July. The fiscal developments continue to exceed expectations, the financial situation of the banks is showing signs of gradual improvement and some progress has been noted on important growth-enhancing reforms. The Eurogroup is encouraged that the economic recovery in Cyprus is gaining strength, the labour market showing signs of stabilization, although unemployment remains at a high level, and that the economy showed overall resilience in the past months. 

The Eurogroup recalls that addressing the excessive level of non-performing loans remains a top priority for Cyprus in order to reignite credit growth and ensure that banks continue to improve their resilience. In this regard, we stress the importance of an effective implementation of the recently enacted insolvency legislation and of the enhanced foreclosure framework, together with other measures adopted recently to speed up the reduction of arrears. The determined pursuit of financial sector reforms, including legislation to facilitate the sale of loans, remains necessary to secure a decisive reversal of the non-performing loan trend.

The Eurogroup commends the Cypriot authorities for the progress that has been made to date, and calls on them to keep up the reform momentum. The timely implementation of the growth-enhancing reform agenda, including privatisation and public administration reform, is essential in order to restore Cyprus' growth potential, while safeguarding the protection of the most vulnerable groups.

The Eurogroup agrees to endorse in principle the updated Memorandum of Understanding as well as the disbursement of the next tranche of financial assistance to Cyprus. We consider that the necessary elements are now in place to launch the relevant national procedures, paving the way to the formal approval by the ESM governing bodies of a disbursement of EUR 500 million in October. Concurrently, the IMF Executive Board is expected to decide on the disbursement of about EUR 125 million.

 

The Eurogroup welcomes the successful conclusion of the seventh review mission in the context of Cyprus' macroeconomic adjustment programme, which took place in July. The fiscal developments continue to exceed expectations, the financial situation of the banks is showing signs of gradual improvement and some progress has been noted on important growth-enhancing reforms. The Eurogroup is encouraged that the economic recovery in Cyprus is gaining strength, the labour market showing signs of stabilization, although unemployment remains at a high level, and that the economy showed overall resilience in the past months. 

 

The Eurogroup recalls that addressing the excessive level of non-performing loans remains a top priority for Cyprus in order to reignite credit growth and ensure that banks continue to improve their resilience. In this regard, we stress the importance of an effective implementation of the recently enacted insolvency legislation and of the enhanced foreclosure framework, together with other measures adopted recently to speed up the reduction of arrears. The determined pursuit of financial sector reforms, including legislation to facilitate the sale of loans, remains necessary to secure a decisive reversal of the non-performing loan trend.

 

The Eurogroup commends the Cypriot authorities for the progress that has been made to date, and calls on them to keep up the reform momentum. The timely implementation of the growth-enhancing reform agenda, including privatisation and public administration reform, is essential in order to restore Cyprus' growth potential, while safeguarding the protection of the most vulnerable groups.

  The Eurogroup agrees to endorse in principle the updated Memorandum of Understanding as well as the disbursement of the next tranche of financial assistance to Cyprus. We consider that the necessary elements are now in place to launch the relevant national procedures, paving the way to the formal approval by the ESM governing bodies of a disbursement of EUR 500 million in October. Concurrently, the IMF Executive Board is expected to decide on the disbursement of about EUR 125 million.

 

The Eurogroup welcomes the successful conclusion of the seventh review mission in the context of Cyprus' macroeconomic adjustment programme, which took place in July. The fiscal developments continue to exceed expectations, the financial situation of the banks is showing signs of gradual improvement and some progress has been noted on important growth-enhancing reforms. The Eurogroup is encouraged that the economic recovery in Cyprus is gaining strength, the labour market showing signs of stabilization, although unemployment remains at a high level, and that the economy showed overall resilience in the past months. 

 

The Eurogroup recalls that addressing the excessive level of non-performing loans remains a top priority for Cyprus in order to reignite credit growth and ensure that banks continue to improve their resilience. In this regard, we stress the importance of an effective implementation of the recently enacted insolvency legislation and of the enhanced foreclosure framework, together with other measures adopted recently to speed up the reduction of arrears. The determined pursuit of financial sector reforms, including legislation to facilitate the sale of loans, remains necessary to secure a decisive reversal of the non-performing loan trend.

 

The Eurogroup commends the Cypriot authorities for the progress that has been made to date, and calls on them to keep up the reform momentum. The timely implementation of the growth-enhancing reform agenda, including privatisation and public administration reform, is essential in order to restore Cyprus' growth potential, while safeguarding the protection of the most vulnerable groups.

  The Eurogroup agrees to endorse in principle the updated Memorandum of Understanding as well as the disbursement of the next tranche of financial assistance to Cyprus. We consider that the necessary elements are now in place to launch the relevant national procedures, paving the way to the formal approval by the ESM governing bodies of a disbursement of EUR 500 million in October. Concurrently, the IMF Executive Board is expected to decide on the disbursement of about EUR 125 million.

Following our agreement in September 2014 on common principles guiding euro area Member States' reforms to reduce the tax wedge on labour, the Eurogroup has discussed benchmarking as a tool to further inform and support reforms in this area.

The Eurogroup recalls that lowering the tax burden on labour has the potential to boost growth and support employment, as well as contributing to the smooth functioning of the EMU. The reforms undertaken recently in this area are steps in the right direction, and additional efforts should be pursued. Against this background, the Eurogroup considers benchmarking to be a useful tool for highlighting the possible need and scope for reform in this field in individual Member States and in the euro area as a whole.

The Eurogroup has agreed to benchmark euro area Member States' tax burden on labour against the GDP-weighted EU average, relying in the first instance on indicators measuring the tax wedge on labour for a single worker at average wage and a single worker at low wage. We will also relate this to the OECD average for purposes of broader comparability. This benchmark fulfils a number of criteria which should be met for a benchmark to be effective. It is simple, measurable and under the control of policy makers.

This benchmarking exercise, together with a continued exchange of best practices within the Eurogroup, can provide valuable support for further labour tax reform initiatives at the national level where applicable, thus giving fresh impetus for carrying reforms forward in euro area Member States. The benchmarking exercise will take place within the context of existing processes and surveillance mechanisms, in particular the European semester monitoring. The Eurogroup will also take stock of the state of play in the reduction of the tax burden on labour when discussing the draft budgetary plans of euro area Member States.

As the tax burden on labour interacts with other labour market features, monitoring needs to be part of a more comprehensive approach, examining the level of labour taxation in its full country-specific policy context, in line with the common principles adopted in September 2014. A full assessment of the urgency - and the potential benefit - for any given Member State to reduce the labour tax wedge should also make use of, indicators and country-specific information on, inter alia, the actual economic situation, in particular employment levels in specific demographic groups and overall, the  level and design of social protection (including its impact on the level of social security contributions), total labour costs dynamics over the medium run and other labour market features. Moreover, in line with the common principles adopted in September 2014, given limited fiscal space, reducing the tax burden on labour should be accompanied by either a compensatory reduction in (non-productive) expenditure, or by shifting labour taxes towards taxes less detrimental to growth, in full respect of the existing EU economic surveillance framework, in particular the Stability and Growth Pact.

Following our agreement in September 2014 on common principles guiding euro area Member States' reforms to reduce the tax wedge on labour, the Eurogroup has discussed benchmarking as a tool to further inform and support reforms in this area.

The Eurogroup recalls that lowering the tax burden on labour has the potential to boost growth and support employment, as well as contributing to the smooth functioning of the EMU. The reforms undertaken recently in this area are steps in the right direction, and additional efforts should be pursued. Against this background, the Eurogroup considers benchmarking to be a useful tool for highlighting the possible need and scope for reform in this field in individual Member States and in the euro area as a whole.

The Eurogroup has agreed to benchmark euro area Member States' tax burden on labour against the GDP-weighted EU average, relying in the first instance on indicators measuring the tax wedge on labour for a single worker at average wage and a single worker at low wage. We will also relate this to the OECD average for purposes of broader comparability. This benchmark fulfils a number of criteria which should be met for a benchmark to be effective. It is simple, measurable and under the control of policy makers.

This benchmarking exercise, together with a continued exchange of best practices within the Eurogroup, can provide valuable support for further labour tax reform initiatives at the national level where applicable, thus giving fresh impetus for carrying reforms forward in euro area Member States. The benchmarking exercise will take place within the context of existing processes and surveillance mechanisms, in particular the European semester monitoring. The Eurogroup will also take stock of the state of play in the reduction of the tax burden on labour when discussing the draft budgetary plans of euro area Member States.

As the tax burden on labour interacts with other labour market features, monitoring needs to be part of a more comprehensive approach, examining the level of labour taxation in its full country-specific policy context, in line with the common principles adopted in September 2014. A full assessment of the urgency - and the potential benefit - for any given Member State to reduce the labour tax wedge should also make use of, indicators and country-specific information on, inter alia, the actual economic situation, in particular employment levels in specific demographic groups and overall, the  level and design of social protection (including its impact on the level of social security contributions), total labour costs dynamics over the medium run and other labour market features. Moreover, in line with the common principles adopted in September 2014, given limited fiscal space, reducing the tax burden on labour should be accompanied by either a compensatory reduction in (non-productive) expenditure, or by shifting labour taxes towards taxes less detrimental to growth, in full respect of the existing EU economic surveillance framework, in particular the Stability and Growth Pact.

Following our agreement in September 2014 on common principles guiding euro area Member States' reforms to reduce the tax wedge on labour, the Eurogroup has discussed benchmarking as a tool to further inform and support reforms in this area.

The Eurogroup recalls that lowering the tax burden on labour has the potential to boost growth and support employment, as well as contributing to the smooth functioning of the EMU. The reforms undertaken recently in this area are steps in the right direction, and additional efforts should be pursued. Against this background, the Eurogroup considers benchmarking to be a useful tool for highlighting the possible need and scope for reform in this field in individual Member States and in the euro area as a whole.

The Eurogroup has agreed to benchmark euro area Member States' tax burden on labour against the GDP-weighted EU average, relying in the first instance on indicators measuring the tax wedge on labour for a single worker at average wage and a single worker at low wage. We will also relate this to the OECD average for purposes of broader comparability. This benchmark fulfils a number of criteria which should be met for a benchmark to be effective. It is simple, measurable and under the control of policy makers.

This benchmarking exercise, together with a continued exchange of best practices within the Eurogroup, can provide valuable support for further labour tax reform initiatives at the national level where applicable, thus giving fresh impetus for carrying reforms forward in euro area Member States. The benchmarking exercise will take place within the context of existing processes and surveillance mechanisms, in particular the European semester monitoring. The Eurogroup will also take stock of the state of play in the reduction of the tax burden on labour when discussing the draft budgetary plans of euro area Member States.

As the tax burden on labour interacts with other labour market features, monitoring needs to be part of a more comprehensive approach, examining the level of labour taxation in its full country-specific policy context, in line with the common principles adopted in September 2014. A full assessment of the urgency - and the potential benefit - for any given Member State to reduce the labour tax wedge should also make use of, indicators and country-specific information on, inter alia, the actual economic situation, in particular employment levels in specific demographic groups and overall, the  level and design of social protection (including its impact on the level of social security contributions), total labour costs dynamics over the medium run and other labour market features. Moreover, in line with the common principles adopted in September 2014, given limited fiscal space, reducing the tax burden on labour should be accompanied by either a compensatory reduction in (non-productive) expenditure, or by shifting labour taxes towards taxes less detrimental to growth, in full respect of the existing EU economic surveillance framework, in particular the Stability and Growth Pact.

Accusée de fausses déclarations dans le cadre d’un appel d’offre, l’entreprise de construction tente de faire annuler sa mise au ban des marchés publics pour trois ans, décidée par la Cour des marchés publics. L’Audience a été fixée au 1er Octobre.

La firme détenue par l’homme d’affaires hongrois Lajos Simicska joue gros lors de ce procès. Accaparant jusqu’à récemment près de 40% des projets financés en Hongrie par l’Union européenne, l’entreprise a été condamnée et écartée de l’obtention des marchés publics pour trois ans. Accusée de fausses déclarations pour obtenir le projet d’extension du Port de Györ, Közgép a fait appel.

Cette condamnation n’est sans doute pas étrangère à la rupture entre Simicska et le Premier ministre Viktor Orban. Ami de longue date et personnage clé de la fondation du Fidesz, l’oligarque a été progressivement écarté par Orban depuis sa réélection en 2014.

L’équipe d’ingénieurs d’Atomproekt, la filiale de l’Entreprise public russe Rosatom, a entamé la phase d’agrandissement de la seule centrale nucléaire en Hongrie, située à Paks.

Financés à 80% par un prêt à faible taux d’intérêt de l’État russe, les deux nouveaux réacteurs devraient être livrés en 2023. Le début des travaux concrétise l’accord intergouvernemental signé par la Hongrie et la Russie en janvier 2014.

La Commission européenne a jugé le projet conforme à ses directives techniques, environnementales et énergétiques. Cependant, le manque de transparence de cet accord continue de susciter la polémique auprès des ONG et de l’opposition.

Le géant de la grande distribution, Tesco, envisage de se retirer de nombreux pays d’Europe centrale, dont la Hongrie, selon le quotidien slovaque « Daily Sme ».

Les temps sont durs pour la multinationale britannique. Souffrant de la rude concurrence des hard-discounts, la chaîne, qui possède 30% du marché de la grande distribution en Hongrie pourrait pousser plus loin le vaste programme d’austérité qui avait déjà conduit à la fermeture de 13 de ses magasins sur le territoire hongrois.

Si  le porte-parole de l’entreprise, n’a pas souhaité commenter ces « spéculations », M. Szatmáry, le commissaire au Gouvernement pour le commerce de détail, a déjà accusé Tesco et d’autres compagnies étrangères « d’expansion agressive pour évincer d’autres concurrents du marché ». Suivant la ligne du patriotisme économique de la majorité en place, il a ensuite incité les investisseurs hongrois à récupérer les parts de marché disponibles si le départ de la firme anglaise venait à se confirmer.

D’après un sondage de l’institut Századvég réalisé début septembre, la coalition gouvernementale chrétienne-conservatrice conserve le soutien d’une majorité relative de l’opinion publique, et le Jobbik stagne. 

Malgré sa gestion contestée de la crise des migrants, le Gouvernement Fidesz-KDNP conserve la confiance des Hongrois. 31% des personnes interrogés déclarent supporter le parti au pouvoir (un point de plus qu’au mois de juin). Une très large majorité de l’échantillon (71%) souhaite également voir le Fidesz achever son quadriennat, en 2018.

La popularité du Jobbik, sur une ligne dure sur la question des réfugiés en transit en Hongrie, ne semble pas évoluer de manière significative, passant de 16 à 15%.

Pour les partis d’opposition, peu d’évolution notable : les socialistes du MSZP sont crédités de 8%, la coalition démocratique (DK) de 6%, et les écologistes du LMP de 5%.