"Political leaders should give an answer in principle tomorrow afternoon (the EU)," he told reporters Panos Beglitis, spokesman for the Greek Socialist Party ( PASOK) on Sunday.

They will then discuss the plan of the troika (International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central Bank) at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Lucas Papademos.

"There will be a meeting of political leaders chaired by Papademos tomorrow afternoon," said Beglitis. 

The chief minister said for his part that the various managers of the government coalition have agreed on a reduction in public spending by an amount equivalent to 1.5% of GDP this year.

This includes measures to reduce salaries and benefits costs to make the Greek economy more competitive, he added.

He also confirmed the meeting of heads of coalition parties on Monday to conclude negotiations on the second aid package of 130 billion euros to be implemented by the mid-March to avoid a collapse of public accounts. 

The two main Greek unions called for a 24-hour strike Tuesday to protest against austerity measures and reforms demanded by international creditors.

"We expect one-day strike on Tuesday," said Ilias Iliopoulos, general secretary of the ADEDY representing public sector employees.

"Despite our sacrifices and despite the recognition that this policy mix is ​​bad, they ask even more austerity," he added.

ADEDY and its private counterpart, the GSEE, representing about two million workers in Greece, about half of the workforce. 

BAROIN OPTIMISTIC

Creditors of Greece had requested a reduction in spending worth one percent of GDP, slightly more than two billion euros for 2012.

The negotiations on the restructuring of the Greek debt held by the private sector rose "relatively well", said his side the French Minister of Economy and Finance, Sunday .

"I think it progresses smoothly on the part of private sector involvement to be made on a voluntary basis," said Baroin under the "Grand Rendez-Vous "Europe 1-Le Parisien-i> Télé.

"We would not get away from the level at which one must move the Greek debt in 2020, that is to say around 120%," said the French minister. And "it is because we do not withdraw these objectives that the discussions are difficult," he said.

"Anyway, it's later than February 13," continued Baroin.

February 13 is the deadline posed by the euro area to launch the operation, which should bring the Greek debt around 120% of GDP in 2020 against over 160% today.

The private sector should accept a discount of around 70% of its obligations under the exchange program of the Greek debt. This will help to lower than 100 billion euros of debt of Greece.

In exchange for a loan of at least 130 billion euros by 2015, the troika of institutional creditors requires further structural reform and further reforms of austerity authority to clean up its public accounts.

Troika calls including a lowering of wages in companies and supplementary pension, which measures face many political and union resistance.

In the absence of an agreement, Greece is threatened with failure to pay on 20 March, when mature 14.5 billion euros of bonds.

A jacket, an electric heater and a good soup. In this period of extreme cold, households equip themselves, and the delight of some traders.

Heating and soup go hand

"The heaters are selling very well right now," said a spokesperson for the brand Boulanger, who expects to sell three times more this week than last week. Thursday, electricity consumption was close to its peak absolute, the French setting up their electric heaters.

Sales of these soups should be greater than 16% this week that they would have been usual with temperatures (5-6 degrees on average), the company provides Metnext, a subsidiary of Météo France. The expected impact is 8.5% for stocks, 8% for soluble coffee, 8% for the chocolate powder and 4.5% for the chocolate tablet. "These products will also benefit from the winter next week," he told AFP Cedric Flecher, consultant Metnext.

The ingredients used to concoct homemade soups, such as leeks, carrots, onions or potatoes, will also benefit, he said, but in supermarkets where they do not freeze, as the open-air markets, where they can be damaged on the shelves. "These conditions lead to changes in diet," added Thierry Desouches, spokesman for U. System "We are back to product a little more invigorating, hot drinks, soups, meat, cooked, products that take the body."

However, consumers may be less tempted to go to the shops to keep warm at home, drawing on their stocks of canned or frozen.

The boots are hot

"There should be a trend to fewer trips to the supermarket. But when it's cold like this, people need calories, with products such as starches, pasta, potatoes. And still fresh such as yogurt, "says Flecher.

"So the races are going to be, but people will focus their shopping in one location, often in large shopping centers rather than in small stores downtown," he said. Textile side, the cold should benefit winter items that had previously suffered a very mild winter. "On this end of period balances, in a extremely cold weather, we expect a very positive impact that will sell for the series easily," says Arrow.

For example, the site selling shoes Sarenza recorded this week "historical peaks" of sales of fur boots and après-ski. "Until now, with mild temperatures, you could dress like in October. But from -5 to -8 degrees, if you have a coat a little short, go buy one soon," noted M . Desouches. "It also benefits the accessories like gloves and hats." "It is rather positive, it can sell the jackets we have not sold the previous week," said Jean-Marc Genis, president of the Federation of brands of clothing (FEH, chains).

"There is no rush," said Bertrand Morvan, president of the National Federation of the clothing (FNH, independent), but the cold "can sell stocks that might have been difficult to sell. " In contrast, the new summer collections "are struggling to leave."

Beyond its organic levers, the former branch of the Accor group prepaid service, which issues such as meal vouchers, announced during a day dedicated to investors and financial analysts that it will carry out targeted acquisitions.

Edenred also wants to accelerate the transition to digital solutions "paving the way for new growth opportunities," we read in a statement.

The action Edenred closed Monday at 18.4 euros, showing a market capitalization of 4.2 billion euros.

The French surveyed by INSEE in November have also never been more pessimistic about their future standard of living and are more likely to anticipate an increase in unemployment, which has already reached a peak of 11.

The composite indicator of consumer confidence stood at 79 on Friday in November and pushed a lowest since February 2009.

Germany, France and Italy, met Thursday in Strasbourg (east), expressed their determination to secure the future of the euro, if necessary by amending the European treaties, but without affecting the independence of the European Central Bank (ECB).

The three largest economies in the euro area are determined to "do everything to support and ensure the sustainability of the euro," said the French president told reporters at the end of the tripartite summit.

Mr."We all three indicated that respect for the independence of this institution, it was not to request positive or negative" to the ECB for its part has assured the French President.

Several French officials, including Foreign Minister Alain Juppe Thursday morning, however, have called for the ECB to play "a role" to save the euro area. This role would be to buy massive debt of the countries most vulnerable to stem the continued rise in rates on government bonds of several euro area countries, which penalizes their already fragile budgets. This rate increase, a sign of the distrust of the market against the euro area, is now affecting countries like France.

"We are all three very much aware of the seriousness of the situation," said

The EU executive believes that these two sets of measures would allow the euro area to overcome the current crisis by advancing to an organization in which greater solidarity would be offset by increased liability of the members.

Depending on the device, the EU executive could amend not only the first draft national budget, submitted in April, but the budget bills during the second half of the year.

The Commission may make recommendations or even claim that a new budget is established, if necessary up to defend his opinion directly to national parliaments after discussion between the finance ministers of the euro area.

But the parliaments retain the final say on the budget, but the EU executive would in turn can open without waiting for an excessive deficit procedure if it considers that the country moves away from the budget path which is recommended.

In extreme cases when the country refused repeatedly to comply with EU recommendations, it could be placed "under administration" Community Trust in the clear in Brussels.

Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers has requested in writing to become the beneficiary of some life insurance from his mother – to the tune of 93 million – "because of an agreement" with her past, said Sunday AFP to the former agent of the billionaire, Pascal Wilhelm.

The leader of New Democracy, one of the three member parties of the coalition government of Lucas Papademos, reiterated that his word was enough and that a written guarantee was unnecessary.

But European leaders fear that political parties are reluctant to implement unpopular reforms before the elections on February 19.

Samaras has already announced its intention to obtain an absolute majority at the polls to renegotiate the terms of the plan for European support.

"With regard to the discussion I had with the troika and the specific issue written guarantees, I would have said my position," said the Conservative leader after the interview.

"THERE WILL BE A SOLUTION"

By refusing to sign the document submitted by the troika, the economist would jeopardize the payment of the next tranche of aid. Creditors are willing to block eight billion euros needed to Athens to avoid default next month.

Political analysts believe, however, a compromise that allows both sides to save face will be found.

"One way or another, there will be a way around the problem.