Improved balance. The balance is improving between the two big objectives that currently dominate Community life - the correction of member states' excessive budgetary deficits and the recovery of economic activity. Let me recall the sign noted at the end of last week, when the European Commission gave its opinion on the request from France to extend the time period for bringing its budgetary deficit below 3% of the gross national product. Paris had asked for a year's respite (2014 instead...