14/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - Deficit reduction targets - Commission already expected France to miss its 3% target. In its autumn economic forecasts, published in November 2012, the European Commission said that the French public deficit would rise to 3.5% in 2013, above the Maastricht cut-off point of 3% of GDP, said a spokesman for Euro Commissioner Olli Rehn on Thursday 14 February. On Wednesday, the French prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, said that France would not meet its target for the simple reason that growth in France, Europe and the world is weaker than expected (see EUROPE 10785). On Friday 22 February, the European Commission will unveil its winter economic forecasts. (MB/transl.fl)