French health to be next flashpoint

Changes in the financing of the health service looks set to be the next major flashpoint in France following the major dispute earlier in the year over pensions.

The government argues that deficits in the sickness insurance schemes make change necessary and it has already set out its proposed timetable.

A commission of experts will produce a report by November this year and the government will then open negotiations with those involved, including the unions. The plan is that these should be concluded by the summer of 2004 with legislation being presented in a year's time.

The union confederations are currently drawing up their positions but a clash of views between the two largest, the CFDT and the CGT, as happened on pensions, may well occur again. The CFDT agreed the pensions reforms with the government while the CGT opposed them.