The French economy can grow at least 1 percent next year if the government sticks to deficit reduction measures and reforms, European Central Bank Governing Council member Christian Noyer said in a interview on Wednesday.

There should be a gradual recovery in the second half of this year, which could help the economy to surpass the IMF's estimate of 0.8 percent growth in 2013, Noyer, who heads Bank of France told Europe 1 radio.

Further, central banker said labor cost should be reduced to lighten the burden of social payroll charges. "We need to find other resources" to finance social spending, he said.

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