Brussels, 09/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - In an interview granted to the French daily newspaper Les Echos and published on Friday, the Commissioner in charge of Economic and Monetary Affairs has voiced his concern about the gaps in competitiveness within the euro zone. Although France and Germany have experienced "similar problems from the point of view of public deficits (...), the prospects for improvement are better in Germany than in France", underlined Joaquin Almunia. "Germany is currently gaining in competitiveness" and "the German government has been very brave", whereas "France finds itself in interim situation", noted Mr Almunia, who has observed a tendency on the part of certain countries towards an "upturn". In the south of the euro zone, "Italy, Greece, Portugal and Spain have lost competitiveness, for very different reasons", said the Commissioner, who points the finger at "inflation rates and unit working costs which are higher than average every year". On the situation of French public finances in 2005, Mr Almunia confirmed that he was sticking to the Commission's forecast for the time being, which anticipates a deficit of 3.2% of GNI in 2005. " I have no reason to change it, as I have not sufficient information of a nature to make me change my mind", he said. Examining possible next-stage scenarios for the excessive deficit proceedings against France will take place, as planned, in January, but the Commissioner is still waiting for the 2006 figures before taking position.