Paris, December 19 (QNA) - The French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) announced that the French public debt reached 3,482.2 billion euros at the end of the third quarter of this year, representing 117.4 percent of the gross domestic product, compared to 115.7 percent in the previous quarter, at a time when Parliament is seeking to settle on the 2026 budget.

The institute noted in a statement today that debt rose by 65.9 billion euros between July and September, after recording an increase of 70.9 billion euros in the previous quarter.

France's public debt is the third highest among EU countries, after Greece and Italy. (QNA)