BRUSSELS (AFP) - France's public deficit is set to be worse than expected in 2013 and 2014, veering up to 3.7 per cent of output this year and 3.9 per cent next year, the European Commission said on Friday.

The figure for this year, when France was due to get back within the EU's ceiling of 3.0 per cent of output, is worse than the 3.5 per cent previously tipped, which leaves Socialist President Francois Hollande looking for special leeway from Brussels.