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PARIS, June 4 (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Friday he was not concerned by the decline of the euro against the dollar, saying the previous higher exchange rate had damaged French exporters.
"I have not changed my position for years. With the President, we were complaining about the fact that the level between the euro and dollar did not correspond to the reality of the economies and was strongly handicapping our exports," he told reporters at a news conference.
"Therefore, I have no worries regarding the current rate."
Fillon's comments sent the euro
His comments reflect a longstanding position among French leaders including President Nicolas Sarkozy that the strength of the euro in past years was damaging the country's export sector.
Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said this week that exporters appeared satisfied with the weaker euro, while European Central Bank governing council member Christian Noyer said that the euro was close to its long-term average.
The single currency has fallen from some $1.44 at the start of the year to just above $1.20 on Friday afternoon amid mounting worries about the stability of public finances in the 16-member monetary zone.
The largest share of France's exports goes to its partners
in the euro zone but one of its industrial flagships is Airbus
parent company EADS