Trade unions at troubled state-owned Credit Lyonnais bank called yesterday for a national protest on May 19th against EU conditions for a new rescue package. The call issued by five trade unions follows a demonstration by 3,000 Credit Lyonnais staff in Brussels this week outside the offices of the European Commission to voice fears of imminent job cuts at the bank.

The Commission has given France an ultimatum ending this weekend to agree to its conditions for a new aid package.