France is charting its own course for its 2015 national budget, separating itself from an EU mandate to trim deficits and embrace austerity so that Europe can get out of it the crisis. Michel Sapin has cut 21 billion in national and local government spending, but this will only reduce France's deficit 4.3% in 2015, because taxes and Social Security filings will also fall.
The government thinks it can get France in top economic shape by boosting GDP by a modest 1%. Not fearing possible sanctions from Brussels, France is asking European countries to be responsible for growth independently. Any stagnation will increase the divides between these nations.
