(Reuters) - Weak consumer spending and business investment brought France's economy to a standstill in the first quarter of the year, raising doubts over the government's growth forecast and its pledge to meet EU deficit targets.
Separately, the International Monetary Fund saw "major risks" of slippage in efforts by President Francois Hollande's government to shave a total 50 billion euros off France's high public spending over the next three years.
The flat growth reading highlighted the divergent paths of the euro zone's two largest economies as European powerhouse economy Germany on Thursday posted a relatively healthy 0.8 percent growth in the first quarter.
France will now need 0.5 percent growth each quarter to meet a government forecast of 1 percent growth for 2014, Natixis Asset Management chief economist Philippe Waechter estimated, warning that would be hard to achieve.
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