France's main newspapers yesterday published brief reports from Brussels on the EU commissioner Mr Pedro Solbes' criticism of the Budget.

"In a European class, you must be neither too bad nor too good," wrote the correspondent for economic daily La Tribune. "Especially when it comes to respecting the criteria of economic stability. Ireland has just learned this to its cost."

Le Figaro also showed sympathy for the "pilloried" Republic. "Ireland has paid the price for this new step forward in the criticism of long-term budgetary planning", the right-wing daily said, noting that the commission has never before envisioned using the "recommendation" weapon provided for by the Amsterdam Treaty.

"The paradox is that the country being pilloried has shown some of the best performances in the EU. . ."

The correspondent of the leftwing Le Monde struck a more critical note. The commission had criticised the Republic's "[`budgetary laxity'] with unprecedented firmness", Le Monde said. The State's economic growth was "quite remarkable" but risked overheating. Dublin "did nothing [against inflation] despite the insistent requests of the commission and the council", Le Monde added.