(Les Echos) Emmanuel Macron: "2015 must be the year of the turning point for the

Emmanuel Macron: "2015 must be the year of the turning point for the economy"

INTERVIEW - The Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital believes that "everything is in place for businesses to invest and hire." "Europe is still the go," laments Emmanuel Macron, who believes that Berlin must conduct a "real" recovery. On Sunday working, there is "no question of falling into a haggling over the number of Sundays worked to allow," he warns.

Francois Hollande believes that a greater than 1% growth to reduce unemployment. She may exceed 1% growth this year?

The government planned 1% and maintains this forecast, but I think that 2015 must be the year of the European Renaissance and the turning point for the French economy. Why? Because the deal for 2015 is new. For exogenous reasons: the sharp decline of the euro against the dollar, the decline in oil prices, low interest rates. And for endogenous reasons, that is to say, with our decisions: the scalability of competitive employment tax credit, which will represent 17 billion euros in 2015 and the entry into force of the first component contributions declines responsibility pact.

Can you quantify the impact of these factors?

For an employer, this will represent a halving of contributions for an employee minimum wage of 140 euros per month in less contributions. All these factors will make several points margin businesses. In terms of competitiveness, the first result is that the average hourly labor costs in the industry in France is already falls below the German level. The 2015 challenge will be to use this new macro gives to fully restore the confidence of entrepreneurs. Everything is objectively met for the hiring and investment departing. To transform the test, it is necessary that we combine three actions during the next six months: to consolidate and explain the measures taken; accelerate reforms at the micro level to modernize our economy and demonstrate to entrepreneurs, investors and our partners as we go; Finally, change the game of European macroeconomic policy to boost domestic demand in the euro area. This requires more intelligently articulated fiscal policies, a Germany that leads a real policy stimulus and proactive in terms of increased European investments.

Unions remain unsatisfied due to the number and content of agreements proposed by management as part of the responsibility pact ...

The signing of sectoral agreements has accelerated late in the year but we must go further. The measures we are implementing to support businesses are on an unprecedented scale under the Fifth Republic. However, the most serious French economic deficit remains the lack of private investment, so that all conditions are now in place for businesses to invest. The cape is perfectly clear, fiscal and legal stability is assured. This is the time to invest. And particularly in France. In particular, the large French groups are reminded that they are French - do they know when they are struggling. We took our responsibilities. Economic elites must now take theirs.

You mention the need to influence the economic policy at European level. It is however much less restrictive than in the past ...

France has taken its responsibilities in terms of reforms and budgetary level, it is set in motion, and no one can say that nothing has happened in recent months. But I note with regret that Europe is still not at the rendezvous. The recovery policy is insufficient in the continent, while the recovery in the euro area remains fragile.

What will be the message from France to Germany, at the meeting scheduled for Sunday between Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel?

We want to convince our German partner that France and Germany must go further together for the revival of Europe. There is a democratic exhaustion in countries subject to austerity. Seen in Greece. This is the Greek sovereign people choose their representatives, who themselves will have to meet the commitments of their country.

She will be a new Greek debt restructuring necessary?

I remind you that there has already been a Greek debt restructuring in 2011. And the troika has set up an assistance plan that can evolve yet, but on the condition that Greece continues to lead the economic reforms and necessary policies.

Another key issue: Is Germany ready to support a relaxation of the monetary policy of the ECB?

The ECB is independent and does all that is necessary to fulfill its mandate. The euro area has experienced a much less accommodative monetary policy that the United States over the last three years, which is more restrictive fiscal policies. The ECB must now be able to take offensive measures to prevent inflation expectations drop out and support the reforms being undertaken to promote growth. This is the time to accelerate. For economic reasons, but also political. Populism necessarily hold the disarray of peoples. And the generation that arrived in recent years in the labor market and has experienced the widespread unemployment runs the risk of being permanently sacrificed.

France is poorly placed to lecture, with a deficit that will not return to 3% by 2017 ...

It is not to lecture but to decide in common for Europe. Moreover, France keeps its commitments to reduce public spending and that is the point. It is not to do more but to say that the 50 billion plan will not be the end of the film: it is necessary to create a goal to continue to reduce the rate of public spending after 2017 eg 50% this was the level of ten years ago, and we do not live less well at that time, the previous majority bears responsibility. Germany, meanwhile, is expected to invest more. She has an overriding responsibility to do as France has an overriding responsibility to carry out reforms.

The Juncker plane he takes too long to take shape?

This is already a major step. And a serious step forward. But this plan can be improved: the resources, this means borrowing capacity at European level. Then, on jobs, we do not have priority bank loans at low cost, we can already get them! The plan should focus on investment support in the form of equity participation for SMEs. It should also fund research infrastructure spending or through subsidies, on the model of an actual plan of future investments (PIA) European.

Why Germany today she would move on all these subjects?

She was already moving. Look at the SMIC and investment. She still move if she trusts and if it becomes aware that we have major challenges in the medium term. France must also show that it is bold.