French 2016 deficit reduction goals unchanged: Sapin

[PARIS] French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said the country would respect its deficit reduction targets for next year despite additional spending on security following the Nov 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

Sapin told BFM TV on Thursday that he would not impose budgetary constraints on security spending. France has also stepped up air strikes on Islamic State in Syria in the last two weeks.

"I won't put any budgetary hurdles in the way of assuring the internal or external security of the French people, but France will not abandon this necessary goal of reducing our deficit," Sapin said.

The government has given a figure of 600 million euros (S$896 million) for additional spending on security next year.

REUTERS