9 billion next year against a peak of EUR 11

Xavier Bertrand warned: its presentation today of the Bill of financing of social security (PLFSS) for 2007, will be long because exhaustive. The Minister of health care a bad memory of "case" of the introduction of the package of 18 euros on heavy acts, which he had not spoken last year during the Commission of the social security accounts, and which had revealed the next day. It will be much more inclined to play the transparency that this year, the text does contains no bad surprise for the insured raising 1 euro for the hospital package 16 euros on January 1, was already announced.

The Government will be a priority during the parliamentary debate: show that health insurance reform allows to significantly reduce deficits without increasing the levies, while financing needs. Thus, the plan "solidarity great age" provides for an increase of 10 per year for five years of the resources devoted to the support of the dependent elderly. At the same time, the Government relies on a deficit of insurance reduced to 3.9 billion next year (against a "peak" of EUR 11.6 billion in 2004), the impasse of the general scheme is thus confined to 8 billion euros ("Les Echos" of yesterday).

Dynamic revenue

In addition to reimbursement expenditures which decelerate, social security benefits finally dynamic revenue: contributions are supported by the recovery of the labour market, and the CSG by the good health of the economy in General.

The debate on the financing of social protection is not closed so far. First estimates because disease will be difficult to meet, and that any break on job creation would plunge the accounts. Above all, the level of the social security deficit remains very high, the return equilibrium not being considered by 2009 than in the optimistic multi-year of Bercy, namely a growth rate of GDP of 3 per year. And the amortization of the social debt (Cades) Fund transfers are more possible, except to accompany them to a rehabilitation of the DRES. Thus, the ceiling for overdraft of the social security (including the negative cash balance is expected to EUR 14.2 billion at 31 December) should exceed EUR 25 billion in 2007...

Transfer of contributions Unedic

"At one point or another, it must ask the question of the financing of social protection", acknowledged Xavier Bertrand, this weekend, at the Congress of the Confederation of French medical unions, without deciding on the advisability of establishing a franchise on the care, idea advocated by Nicolas Sarkozy. The UMP will have, during the election campaign, clarify its intentions on the need or not, to widen further the resources of social security.

Another debate that has shaken the Government in the preparation of the PLFSS will soon re-emerge: it was envisaged to include in the law the principle of a transfer, after 2007, contributions Unedic to the old-age branch. And to consolidate the commitment made by François Fillon in 2003. The degradation of the accounts of the old-age insurance in fact concerned the Government. However, the addition of a section in the PLFSS was set aside because Unedic would have little appreciated to be put before the fact. But if unemployment continues to decline at this rate, the question will be on the menu of the "Rendez-vous" of 2008 on pensions.