– The French Constitutional Court gave the green light for the controversial “millionaire tax” increase to 75 percent. President François Hollande got himself thus the rage of executives and football on the neck, threatening to strike. Ultimately, the Court drew a line through the bill, because 66 percent tax is the statutory maximum for individuals.

– From Austria: The traditional New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will focus this year on the anniversary of the First World War.

– Prediction by the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR): According to the London think tank, continued population growth in the UK will lead to a rapid expansion of the economy due to the relatively low level of taxation. Local Chambers of Commerce recently predicted that the UK economy will grow by 2.7 percent next year, the highest rate since the first quarter of 2008.

France, currently the number two in Europe will be one of the worst performing western countries next year due to the high tax burden and all the problems in the euro zone. The CEBR expects the UK to overtake France in 2018.