Petition supported by: Associazione Articolo32,  AIACE Italia, Sindacato ISCA, Sindacato USF-Italia

Access of employees and pensioners of the European Institutions (E.I.) to the Italian National Health Service (SSN)

The Personnel of the European Institutions based in Italy (Joint Research Centre, Ispra; European Food Safety Authority, Parma; European Training Foundation, Turin; European University Institute, Florence; European Commission representation, Rome and regional representation in Milan), in the General Assembly on 26/03/2025 at Ispra, take note of the Agreement between the PMO and the Italian Ministry for Health, already sanctioned on 06.03.2025 by the Conference Stato - Regioni and which will be eventually signed in Rome on 27/03/2025.

This Agreement will cancel the constitutional right of obligatory registration to the Italian national health service (SSN) for all employees and pensioners of the European Institutions resident in Italy (The Personnel).

The Personnel believe this Agreement is

an infringement of the Art. 32 of the Italian Constitution, cancelling a fundamental, unavailable right,  

an illegitimate act, where neither the PMO nor the Department of the Italian Ministry for Health have got the authority to sign an agreement cancelling that right,

an inconsistent document, contradicting the position kept by the Commission for over 50 years, i.e. the co-existence of JSIS with the SSN,

an outrageous act, lacking of any normative references and/or a substantiated and coherent legal basis,

a collection of erroneous interpretations of laws, regulations, sentences; and with serious omissions, without any reference to the current normative frame. In particular, the Agreement ignores:

o   the real nature of JSIS, i.e. an insurance, which has an integrative and subsidiary character, partially paid by the personnel, where coverage of the expenses limited by deductibles and low thresholds; its pure economic character of JSIS, neither equivalent, nor similar to the SSN and which cannot replace it; its coexistence with the SSN, as written in the Regulation; the concept of primary, which is related to other insurances and not to the SSN;

o   the model on which the SSN is funded, i.e. by fiscality (and not by specific contribution);

o   the concept of residence, which is required to get access to the SSN. PMO confuses the concept of residence with the formalities to register foreigners;

o   that the resident employees and pensioners pay all taxes and levies from which the SSN is financed;

a discriminating act: the Personnel resident in Italy will be discriminated vis-a-vis of all other citizens resident in Italy; discriminated vis-à-vis of the Personnel resident in member states, where a national health service is in place, similar to the Italian one; vis-à-vis of all EU citizens, which have a Team card, i.e. valid in all member states,

a disruptive action, which would also affect other countries having a national health service similar to the Italian one and which will have a heavy influence on the financial situation of the Caisse Maladie, probably limiting its reimbursement possibilities.

The Personnel express his disdain

towards DG HR, not only for the production of an absurd Agreement, but also because it has not fulfilled its duties as Commission service, providing very late and partial replies, not addressing the main questions, keeping information secreted, avoiding a serious debate and, overall, completely ignoring the normative frame defining this sensitive issue.

The Personnel urge

the whole Commission to avoid the signature of such an Agreement, to respect the whole normative frame and its personnel. What is at stake is not only the health protection right and this specific case, but the whole credibility of the Commission. We all want a better Europe, which can only be founded on the values expressed in the fundamental charter of the human rights. The case under our eyes shows a different reality.

and urge, in case the Agreement would be signed,

the intervention of all unions and staff committees to protect their rights and avoid discrimination,

the information and involvement of all European institutions in a process suited to restore the legitimacy,

the appeal to the competent Italian Courts and the European Court of Justice.