To offset those unexpected outlays, the government plans to freeze €4 billion worth of expenditures this year and later reassess if the country can afford those costs, French business daily Les Echos reported Friday. It is unclear whether the freeze will hit all spending across the board or will be concentrated in certain ministries.
“These €4 billion are directly linked to rising costs resulting from higher interest rates,” French Economy Minister Roland Lescure told French daily Le Parisien on Monday.
When asked about the plans, the French economy ministry referred POLITICO to Lescure’s quote in Le Parisien.
The government is expected to share more details on the economic impact of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and ensuing energy crisis with key ministers, lawmakers, and local representatives on Tuesday morning. Paris is also expected to send updated spending plans to the European Commission by the end of the month.
Earlier this month, the economy ministry said it expects the conflict to negatively impact growth and inflation, resulting in less tax income filling state coffers.
Despite the drop in tax revenue, the government is digging into its pockets to help businesses and households hard-hit by the crisis, spending at least €130 million.