Coordination of social security systems

This briefing is one in a series of 'Implementation Appraisals' on the operation of existing EU legislation in practice. Each such briefing focuses on a specific EU law which is likely to be amended or reviewed, as foreseen in the European Commission's Annual Work Programme.

Implementation Appraisals aim to provide a succinct overview of material publicly available on the implementation, application and effectiveness of an EU law to date – drawing on available input from the EU institutions and external organisations. They are provided to assist parliamentary committees in their consideration of the new proposals, once tabled.The complex system of EU rules on social security coordination needs to comply with various challenges and national circumstances. These challenges include uneven and inadequate application, the lack of transparency and lack of understanding of the existing rules, and an uncertainty about the position of cross-border workers and the benefits applicable to them. Another outstanding challenge is the most recent jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union that clarifies several important rules applicable to the relation between Member States and provision of benefits to the EU citizens.

The European Parliament has called on the European Commission on several occasions to update the existing legislation on the coordination of social security systems so that it would react to these challenges. Similarly, the European Economic and Social Committee has recommended that the existing legislation be updated. Furthermore, the representatives of various stakeholder groups have voiced similar requests.

In December 2016, the European Commission submitted a long awaited proposal amending Regulation 883/2004 and Regulation 987/2009 dealing with the coordination of social security systems. The proposal concentrates on changes linked to a broad spectrum of issues and benefits, mainly long-term care benefits, unemployment benefits, social benefits and family benefits. This proposal provides the opportunity for improvements to be made to the currently applicable rules

EP: EPRS: Briefing: Implementation Appraisal: Ex-ante Impact Assessment http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/search.html?policyAreas=EXIMAS

ESO: Background information: Coordination of social security systems: Implementation assessment (January 2015) http://www.europeansources.info/record/coordination-of-social-security-systems-implementation-assessment/

ESO: Background information: Adoption of a proposal revising EU rules on social security coordination http://www.europeansources.info/showDoc?ID=1218921

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