French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium December 13, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he would never put Europe ahead of the demands of the French people, days after he caved in to a anti-tax revolt by announcing costly measures set to increase the French budget deficit.

“No country can move forward if it doesn’t listen to the legitimate anger of its people, an anger which is expressed everywhere in Europe,” Macron told reporters ahead of an European Union summit in Brussels.

“I will never carry out the European project, in which I believe, against aspirations I consider as legitimate. I think they can be reconciled and that’s what we’re trying to do,” he added.

The tax breaks and other measures he is offering to appease the yellow vest protesters are likely to push France’s budget deficit above the European Commission threshold of three percent of GDP.