Jim Murphy

French Presidency Preparations

With just a week to go until the French Presidency of the EU kicks off (and the Slovenians get a well deserved summer break) I'm off to Paris this afternoon to see French Europe Minister Jean Pierre Jouyet. We've spoken by phone over the last couple of weeks, as I have to a number of my European counterparts following the Irish No vote, but it's good to see him face to face, and reinforce the UK's support for the French government's work on climate change, migration policy and European defence.
 
I left for Paris straight after Oral Questions from MPs to Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers in the House of Commons earlier today. After a debate on the European Council last week, and the PM's statement on it yesterday, it was good to focus on some questions about what the UK and EU are doing to actually help people - tackling human trafficking for example. See what was said in Oral Questions, and other debates in the House of Commons.

Posted at 18:43 24 June 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[3]

Towards a Green Collar Europe

What would a high-growth, low-carbon economy look like?

I was delighted to have the opportunity to discuss this and other questions with my colleague, the French Europe Minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet, and a panel of speakers from business, trade unions and civil society at the fourth Global Europe seminar today. As we approach the incoming French Presidency of the EU in the second half of 2008, I welcome the strong leadership that the French Government has shown on the climate change agenda.

It's clear that a low-carbon economy depends on more than a shift to new, cleaner technologies. We also need skills, expertise in research, innovation, carbon finance, construction and many other sectors to support the new economy. In short, we need green skills as much as we need green energy. Across Europe a 20 per cent increase in energy efficiency would create a million jobs. The UK's environmental industries already employ some 400,000 people - by 2050 that could rise to well over a million. These are the 'green collar' jobs of the seminar title, and in future we want the UK economy to offer a mix of good blue collar, good white collar and good green collar jobs. As participants around the table agreed, getting us there will require a transformational shift in the way our economy is structured. The EU Budget and the Lisbon jobs and growth strategy both have important parts to play.

There were many insights to be taken away from the seminar, and I will be following these up with all the groups that joined us for the discussion today.

Posted at 17:04 08 May 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[2]

UK - France Summit

On Thursday I met my friend Jean-Pierre Jouyet, the French Minister for Europe, as part of the UK-France Summit at the Emirates stadium. The fact that there were another dozen British and French Ministers working together on issues from the environment to criminal justice [PDF] shows just how close the relationship is. The fact is that so much of what matters to people in UK matters just as much to people in France too. We can't hope to tackle issues climate change and other challenges without working with other countries. You can read the Joint UK-France Summit Declaration here.

Jean-Pierre and I discussed a range of issues. One thing I am really looking forward to is making sure that the opportunities for EU schemes such as those which involve access to education in other countries are accessible to all -not just a few.

After the meeting Jean-Pierre and I had a chance to meet Arsene Wenger on the pitch. He told me to get the ligament I damaged playing in football in Bosnia seen to! Thanks to Arsenalpics for sending me the photo.

Posted at 12:05 31 March 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[2]

French Health Care

Just a quick posting on healthcare for expats in France (for what I hope might be the last time on this issue!) I appreciate that many of the comments posted have recognised that it is sometimes more effective for the UK Government to try to discreetly persuade other Governments. Of course others have a different view - it’s a matter of judgement. I know that there is still some clarification needed about cover for a small number of people, and we are encouraging the French authorities to make sure the new rules are understood and implemented throughout France. But I would like to thank everyone at the British Embassy in Paris for all their persistence and hard work, and to FHI as well. Also my personal thanks to French Europe Minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet. With best wishes to all UK citizens in France.

Posted at 08:54 01 February 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[47]

Decision on healthcare in France

Good news. Late last night it was confirmed that the French government has now decided that all inactive EU nationals who were resident in France before 23 November 2007 will be able to access healthcare via the Couverture Maladie Universelle (CMU), both those who were registered in the CMU and those who were an E106 holder at the time.
 
I very much welcome this decision - it follows a lot of contact with the French government about the retrospective nature of their earlier proposals on the implementation of Directive 2004/38EC. I will be speaking to the French Europe Minister again today.
 
I appreciate the lobbying efforts many of you have made, which helped to highlight the significance of this issue for the European expatriate community - an issue which has understandably caused considerable anxiety for many of you. I know that those people directly affected by these changes have been seeking greater reassurance before now. The British Embassy in Paris has been passing on the most up-to-date official information we have received from the French government, but of course they couldn't pre-empt the outcome of our continuing discussions with the French authorities.
 
You can see the reply from French Health Minister Mme Bachelot to our Ambassador in Paris here.

For further sources of information, please contact the following: (also listed on the British Paris Embassy's website www.ambgb.com)
 
CNAM - The French Health Service (English language service): +33 8 20 90 42 12
 
CLEISS - (France's helpdesk for international mobility and social security):

11 rue de la tour des Dames
75436 Paris cedex 09
Tel: +33 1 45 26 33 41
www.cleiss.fr

Posted at 10:44 24 January 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[23]

Healthcare in France - E106 holders

Thank you to everyone who has commented about the issue of expired E106 forms. I can assure you that we are pursuing this point with the French Health Ministry, and requested before Christmas a fuller explanation of the arrangements for E106 holders. Once again we have impressed on the Health Ministry the urgency of the situation.

Our officials remain in close contact with the French authorities, who have promised more details in the next week. We have been assured that people whose E106 forms have expired will continue to have the safeguard of essential immediate healthcare provision, either through the Couverture Maladie Universelle or the Aide Médicale d'Etat.

The extra information from the French Health Ministry on the new arrangements for E106 holders should help resolve issues with local health agencies in France, whom I understand are not consistently applying the recent instructions received from the Health Ministry. The British Embassy in Paris will publish any further information we receive on its website as soon as it becomes available.

Posted at 15:51 11 January 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[64]