French government spokesman Jean- Francois Cope said on Friday that France was ready to make " adjustments" which the European Commission qualified as " protectionist" and "discriminatory" Thursday the new rules to shield French firms from foreign takeovers.

The French government has said it is ready to invoke "economic patriotism" to protect key industries from foreign predators after the world's biggest steelmaker Mittal Steel, based in The Netherlands, launched a 18.6 billion-euro (22.7 billion dollars) hostile takeover bid at its European rival Arcelor.

Arcelor was formed four years ago by the merger of three steelmakers -- Luxembourg's Arbed, Spain's Aceralia and France's Usinor.

French Economy and Finance Minister Thierry Breton said the government was "concerned" and was following developments "with the greatest attention" because of its "implications for European and French industry and for employment."

Last summer France indicated its will strengthen the protection plan for the country's strategic industries and made a list of " strategic" industries where it could block any hostile foreign takeover bid.

The list covers industries such as casinos, private security firms, the development and production of antidotes, equipment for intercepting communications, computer security systems and some dual civil-military technology and cryptology activities.

Source: Xinhua