France to miss deficit target, lowers growth projections

France's finance minister Michel Sapin has said the country will not achieve a 3% EU budget deficit target.

France's budget deficit will be around 4.4% of GDP in 2014, drop to 4.3% next year, and will not go below 3% until 2017, he said.

Mr Sapin also lowered the country's growth projections for this year and next.

However, France was not requesting a change in European Union rules, he said at a press conference.

The country's lack of growth reflected "an economic reality" that affects

IPPR: Europe can reduce reliance on Russian gas

The European Union can dramatically reduce reliance on Russian gas through energy efficiency targets, centre-left think tank IPPR has said.

A binding energy-saving target of 35% by 2030 would cut gas imports by a third, IPPR said.

The UK government has opposed such a target, saying it would be restrictive, and may not be cost-effective.

However, a security expert said energy supplies from volatile regions risk disruption.

The UK should adopt energy efficiency targets as part of its broader response to events in Ukraine, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) research fellow Joss Garman said.

The European Union has approved new sanctions against Russian energy companies including Rosneft, but gas will not be affected.

Boosting energy efficiency

UK businesses 'want new EU deal', says lobby group

Most British businesses want the UK to renegotiate its relationship with the EU, according to a British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) survey.

The lobby group said 60% of the 3,200 firms polled believed bringing some powers home would help the UK economy.

However, most wanted to stay in the EU - with a majority saying leaving would damage UK business prospects.

The European Council's new president has pledged to reach a deal with the UK on EU reform.

Donald Tusk said he would "take on the concerns voiced by the UK"

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who was