PARIS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- France's public debt rose by 59.6 billion euros (67.7 billion U.S. dollars) in the second quarter of 2026 from the previous quarter, reaching 3.59 trillion euros (4.08 trillion dollars), or 119 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) said Tuesday.
According to Insee, France's public debt had already increased by 75.8 billion euros (86.1 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter, standing at 117.5 percent of GDP.
Under the Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force on Nov. 1, 1993, member states adopting the euro are required to keep their public budget deficit below 3 percent of GDP and public debt below 60 percent of GDP.
According to data released by the French Ministry of Economy and Finance on Sept. 19, the country's public debt will continue to rise, reaching 119.3 percent of GDP in 2026, and is projected to rise further to 121.7 percent in 2027, more than double the European Union's 60-percent limit. ■
