Commission attacks France over students

Keywords: Health, Insurance, France, Students

The European Commission has attacked the French government for its attitude to health insurance for foreign students. European legislation allows a national of one EU member state to study in another, provided, among other things, that he/she has health insurance. The French authorities demand presentation of an E1-11 form, which shows that the individual is a member of the national health scheme in his/her country. Without this, a student must pay one year's subscription to the French social-security scheme for students, regardless of whether the stay is for less than 12 months. In practice, the French exclude other types of private health insurance. The Commission says that this amounts to a restriction on the right of students from one EU state to live in another. It has issued a "reasoned opinion" to the French Government, which could ultimately be taken to the European Court of Justice.