MNI BRIEF: EC Warns France To Stick To Agreed Debt Plan

The European Commission told France Thursday that "substantial consolidation measures" would be needed in its 2026 budget if the country is to stick to the EU spending commitments it made in its medium-term fiscal plan. 

"I emphasised the importance of sticking with this plan," EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters following a meeting with acting French Finance Minister Roland Lescure in Luxembourg.

The meeting comes as a new French prime minister is expected to be announced Friday, with a temporary delay to President Emmanuel Macron's landmark pension reform being mooted as one way to break the political deadlock over next year's budget.