French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire stated on Friday that France is ready to reach a deal on the new EU fiscal rules by the end of the year.
"We have made essential progress," Le Maire told the press ahead of today's session. "It should be possible to reach an agreement before the end of the year." Besides, according to Le Maire, an eventual deal would establish coherent rules and recognize the importance of investments and reforms.
EU finance ministers are debating the new rules this week, which financial markets are following closely. The goal is to agree on a common position, dubbed the general approach, to be negotiated with the European Parliament in early 2024 that will reflect the bloc's new post-pandemic reality with higher public debt and amid the need for more investment to prevent climate change.
