The Federation's WEB site was presented (www.fnrgce.fr) which has a link with the European Group Web site (www. euroencuentros.org).

In the evening the following speakers took the floor: Mr. Lelay, EPS General Manager; M. Hubert, EPS President; Mr. Job l Gue­rriau, General Manager of the National Federation of Savings Banks; Mr. Jean-Jacques Dormois, President of MNCE (National Benefit Society of Savings Banks) and Mr. Arnaud Lherbiere CNCE Manager of Social Affairs (National Fund of Savings Banks).

The Assembly ended by putting forward and discussing the conclusions drawn up. Both Mr. Bizard and Mr. Chretien took part in the closing ceremony announcing that neither of them would be running again in the elections for their posts in the next financial year. The whole room gave them a standing ovation for a few minutes. It was a very moving moment.

ON the 12th of October, in the beautiful French city of Nantes, in the Loire Country, the XX Assembly of the National Federation of Retired Staff from French Savings Banks was held. The regio­nal President, Mr. Jean-Yves Martín, welcomed approximately 200 attendants, gave some historical and demographic informa­tion about the area and then gave the floor to Mr. Didier Pataul, President of the hosting bank, the Loire Country Savings Bank Management, who thanked him for the invitation to inaugurate the Assembly. He then went on to talk about the savings bank's evolution from being a local saving bank to a regional one; he also talked about the current national banking concept.

The President of the French Federation, Mr. Francis Bizard was next to take the floor, he presented its moral report mentioning the objectives established by the Board of Directors and attained in the fiscal year 2006. The Secretary-General Mr. Jean Claude Chretien then presented a complete report of the activities carried out last year, focusing on the re-evaluation of pensions, disability, terminal diseases, orphanage, educational benefits, supplementary pen­sions; health and the Federation's representation in the different organisations that decide on issues concerning French retired staff from savings banks. In regards to activities abroad, he mentioned their participation in the European Group's GET (European Labour Group) and OPPS groups, their participation in the Euromeeting in Sicily and the importance of the agenda's issue concerning the discri­mination of elderly people in the health system. The Fede­ration's Treasurer, Mr. B. Petithomme-Lafaye then pre­sented the financial report.

Mr. Charles Millaud, Management Chairman of the CNCE (National Centre of Savings Banks), highligh­ted what the Savings Banks social duties were concer­ning the elderly, detailing

the changes made in the savings bank structure and the foreseen changes that will be made due to the multiple services that are offered now and that will be offered in the future. 

Franco Salza, the President, spoke on behalf of the European Group. He talked about the conclusions made at this years Euro­meeting concerning sustainability in financing pensions. The Exe­cutive Vice-president Mr.José Roberto López, then put forward thoughts on the discrimination of the elderly in the health system. When the discussions were over the Group's Golden Medal was awarded to Jean Claude Chretien, for all his hard work and colla­boration with its Executive board. Mr. Chretien gave thanks and dedicated a few words to his predecessors in the Group: Mr. Roger Miraglio who was involved with Founding the Group, and Mr. Jean Vauriot who he replaced. He stated that it was very important to be a member of the European Group because the more of us there are and the more united we are and the more they will listen to our claims.