The first concerns the status of European mutual

Throughout to ensure the quality of care. It is our common road map. "Now, yesterday in Lyon, at the opening of the 38th Congress of la Mutualité française (FNMF), Jacques Chirac implicitly gave his remains initiatives formalized in the famous"journey of mutual health" defended by Jean-Pierre Davant, President of the FNMF ("Les Echos"from Thursday June 8).

Responding to the concerns expressed by the latter in his speech of Home the quality of care in the territory "is not homogeneous", the continuing education of physicians is insufficient, the financing of the health system must obey "rules focus on the general interest", the President of the Republic assured that the State and mutuality were moving in the same direction. "Much remains to be done also to establish a culture of results and transparency in the field of health", thus affirmed Jacques Chirac, bringing water to the mill of the Federation.

Step of concrete commitments

However, those who expected concrete commitments had to be disappointed. Thus, if the speech of the head of State there was a unexpected promise "the goal of return to the balance (of social security) end of 2007 will be held" and an announcement the extension of aid to the complementary for persons whose income exceeds 20 ceiling of CMU, against 15 today (see page 4) , the account is not. The FNMF, for example, continues to advocate for a universal tax credit.

But the President was especially, in his luggage, declarations of intent proving to the mutuality it is heard if be routinely heard. The first concerns the status of European mutual. Buried a little quickly by Brussels last autumn, Jacques Chirac wants to see it "restored to the agenda of the Commission". Lobbying of European associations of mutual societies (Acme and Aisam) having proved successful, it would seem that Finland, which will take the Presidency of the Union on July 1, is already engaged in this sense.

The second covers the subject very sensitive to the participation of the employer State supplementary coverage of its agents, and, therefore, on the device "euro-compatible" to replace the aid enjoyed by major mutual of officials. "I am mindful that the employer State continues to guarantee, including at the legislative level, the complementary protection of all employees, active and retired, through a solidarity system", said Jacques Chirac. A positive considered statement by Maurice Duranton, President of the Mutualité public service (MFP), which sees it as "a step towards a law guaranteeing employees a right to solidarity complementary social protection". In his entourage, it is suggested that, to accommodate the new device, it would be the track of the service of general economic interest (SGEI) which would eventually rope ("Les Echos" from May 9). A meeting is scheduled Monday in Brussels to move forward on the subject.

Responsible for contracts

Finally, the head of State has, in a cryptic manner, raised the issue of the tax system of mutual. "I wish (...)". "that the commitment to mutuality, through responsible for contracts, be recognized by our tax legislation", explained Jacques Chirac. The exemption of corporate income tax and business tax under these contracts in fact talk their private competitors. "This could mean that the mostly vectors of these contracts would be fiscally recognized for their active participation in the national solidarity", explains Christine Helary-Olivier, lawyer at Ernst & Young. In other words, the base for the calculation of tax for additional organizations (regardless of their legal status) may exclude contributions related to responsible for contracts.