Prime Minister Michel Barnier wants to "control spending" on State Medical Aid, intended for foreigners in an irregular situation, he explains in the JDD.
The tenant of Matignon, asked whether this aid should be called into question, does not seem to plead for it. He considers that "a control of the AME expenses" is necessary, and explains that "the government and Parliament will take all measures to ensure that these do not increase any further".
"It is important to ensure that AME is never diverted from its purpose, which is a public health tool," he adds.
The government said on Tuesday that it was in favour of freezing the credits allocated to AME, a change of tack after initially planning to increase them in the 2025 budget.
In 2024, AME represented approximately 0.5% of the health expenditure planned by the Social Security budget (PLFSS). At the end of 2023, there were 466,000 AME beneficiaries.
Michel Barnier, who went to the Italian border on Friday with Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau for a working meeting with two Italian ministers (Foreign Affairs and Interior) on the issue of immigration, specified that he would go to Rome in November to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, from the post-fascist far right.
Regarding foreigners subject to Obligations to Leave the Territory (OQTF) and whose country of origin refuses their return, he states that he wants "in a spirit of dialogue", to "extend or resume discussions with these countries".
"We will not do it in an aggressive manner, but by laying out all the tools of bilateral cooperation," he added, considering that "there are countries close to France, such as Algeria and Morocco, with whom dialogue is possible."
"And we will indeed be able to examine all dimensions, if necessary, from the issuance of visas to development aid," he warns.
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