By William Horobin

PARIS--French finance minister Michel Sapin said Wednesday France is still pushing for the European Union to use the flexibility of budget rules to adapt the pace of deficit reduction.

"It's not a question of knocking over the table, but finding a level of deficit reduction that supports growth," Mr. Sapin said at a news conference in Paris.

France has repeatedly missed deficit reduction targets in recent years, sparking tensions with the European Commission, which is responsible for enforcing new fiscal rules designed to avoid a repeat of the eurozone's debt crisis.

The commission is due to decide in March whether it will begin proceedings that could ultimately result in financial sanctions against France.

Mr. Sapin said that the election of leftist group Syriza in Greece bolsters the case for reviewing austerity policies in Europe. Mr. Sapin said he had spoken earlier Wednesday with the new Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis on the telephone and will meet with him in Paris on Monday.

-Write to William Horobin at william.horobin@wsj.com