Brussels, 01/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - In response to criticism from the European Commission on France's Draft Budget for 2003, the French Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin has given assurances that he will remain loyal to the Stability and Growth Pact (see EUROPE 28 September p 12). Addressing a gathering of parliamentarians on Monday from the Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP), Mr Raffarin declared, "I would like to assure the European authorities, there is no question of us being disloyal to Stability Pact commitments…We know only too well within it, there is a perspective to which we must prepare". In a reference to the objective of budgetary balance fixed for 2006 in Euro-zone countries, Mr Raffarin stated, "We are determined to succeed at this significant appointment of France within greater Europe". Mr Raffarin justified the draft financial law on stabilising the deficit by 2003, in an allusion to the situation inherited from his Socialist predecessor, Lionel Jospin. "I am and will remain loyal to Stability Pact commitments but I am regretfully obliged, nevertheless, to point out that the figures of my predecessors were out by almost EUR 15 billion…It is therefore necessary that we confront these difficulties and I obviously regret that the periods of growth were not used advantageously to balance public spending. We will carry out this work as required", he concluded.