French premier launches stimulus plan of 1,000 projects

Francois FillonParis - French Prime Minister Francois Fillon on Monday launched the government's 26 billion-euro (33 billion-dollar) plan to pull the country out of the economic crisis, French media reported.

In the southern city of Lyon, Fillon outlined the proposal, which comprises 1,000 public projects, primarily involving infrastructure construction and renovation.

The plan, said Fillon, was part of an "urgent and concrete national mobilization to confront the ongoing crisis."

Some 11 billion euros are intended to provide cash to struggling enterprises, Fillon said.

Another 11 billion euros target projects funded directly by the state, and 4 billion euros will be provided by large state-owned companies to upgrade and develop rail, energy and postal service infrastructures.

Earlier Monday, Finance Minister Christine Lagarde announced that the French economy had shed 45,000 jobs in December, following the loss of 65,000 jobs in November. (dpa)

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