The provisional agreement reached today by the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission revises the European rules on social security coordination to ensure that they remain fair, clear and easier to enforce.

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This agreement updates and safeguards the rights of citizens moving to another EU country and facilitates the cooperation between national authorities. Among its innovations, job seekers will be given more time to find work abroad and the long-term care needs of older people living abroad will also be addressed. Moreover, national authorities will have better tools to address abuse or fraud and to verify the social security status of workers sent abroad.

Welcoming the provisional agreement, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility Marianne Thyssen said:

“The right to live, work or study across the Union - one of the most cherished benefits of the EU Single Market for sixty years - would not be possible without the EU rules on social security coordination. I am pleased that today the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the Commission’s proposal to ensure that these rules remain fair, clear and easier to enforce. I am particularly happy for our many mobile citizens and workers for which these modernised rules will be a great step forward in their social protection.

In the past years, the European Commission has worked hard to facilitate fair labour mobility for citizens, workers and businesses, while stepping up the fight against fraud. We revised the Posting of Workers Directive, making the same pay for the same work at the same place a reality. Recently, we also reached an agreement to set up the European Labour Authority to make sure that the rules are effectively enforced. With today’s provisional agreement on social security coordination, we add the last piece of the puzzle for fair labour mobility in Europe.

I would like to thank rapporteur Balas who negotiated on behalf of the European Parliament and the Romanian Presidency on behalf of the Council.”

Next steps

This provisional agreement now has to be formally adopted by both the European Parliament and the Council.