PARIS, Sept. 5(Xinhuanet)-- French Economy Ministry said Monday that France has informed the European Union(EU) that its target for public deficit in 2005 would be raised to 3 percent of the gross domestic product(GDP) from the previous 2.9 percent.

"In line with the normal timetable, the government informed theEuropean Commission of its public deficit for 2005 today...The forecast for the public deficit in 2005 is 3.0 percent of gross domestic product," the ministry said in a statement.

"This forecast was made on the basis of the growth between 1.5 percent and 2 percent this year," said the statement, which confirmed the French government's objective to bring from 2005 itspublic deficit under the euro area's 3-percent ceiling of the GDP, stipulated by the Stability and Growth Pact(SGP).

In 2004, France's public deficit was 3.7 percent of GDP, or 59.8 billion euros(75 billion dollars) and 4.2 percent in 2003, or 65.8 billion euros(82 billion dollars).

The public deficit defined under the EU Maastricht Treaty covers the excess of spending over revenue with regard to the central government budget, social welfare budgets and local authority budgets. Enditem