B8‑0261/2019

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on a solidarity levy and social matters

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 133 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas budget cuts have been made in the French social security system[1],

B. whereas the free medical assistance provided by the French state (Aide Médicale d’État – AME) to persons not lawfully resident in France[2] costs the country 1 billion euros each year[3];

C. whereas at the conference held at the European Parliament on ‘Making migration the Focus of Cooperation between the European Union and Africa’, the former ambassador Michel Foucher put forward the idea of an ‘Cooperative social security system for Africa’[4];

D. whereas in 2016 private donations amounting to USD 60 billion[5] were made to the African continent, mainly via Western Union and European postal services;

E. whereas an average of 7.45% tax was levied on those donations;

F. whereas that constitutes a very significant sum, part of which could be allocated to healthcare for immigrants; whereas a 2% levy would cover all the costs of the AME and free up resources for French citizens who are being refused certain types of healthcare;

1. Requests that the Commission bring forward a proposal for a solidarity levy on that average 7.45% tax to prevent Member States’ social security systems from being undermined.