The euro area has rules and they are the same for all euro area countries.
It said France's finance minister Bruno Le Maire at a press conference before the Eurogroup meeting on Monday.
"We should all do our best to strengthen the euro area. When all 19 euro countries have the same economic policies, it will strengthen the euro area," he said.
"Now it's up to the Commission to make a good assessment. I do not want to teach any lessons," he continued.
France does not follow the budget rules to make the European Commission happy, but because it is good for the French people and the French economy, the finance minister said.
"We also do this to respect our European colleagues. We have committed ourselves to a joint project and everyone must respect the rules.
The Italian government is targeting a budget deficit of 2.4 percent next year, high above the EU's target of 0.8 percent. Finance Minister Giovanni Tria nevertheless promised that government debt will be reduced by 1 percentage point over three years.
This is achieved by revising growth prospects, 1.6 percent for next year and 1.7 percent for the following year. The Commission's forecast from May predicted growth for Italy at 1.3 this year and 1.1 percent next year.
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