On 20 November, Parliament's employment committee voted in favour of updated rules to make it easier for people to work in another EU country and have fair access to social security. The committee’s decision to start negotiations with the Council on the new rules was approved by MEPs during the plenary session on Tuesday 11 December.

Why do we need social security coordination?

As an EU citizen, you have the right to move to another EU country to study, work temporarily or settle permanently. About 14 million EU residents, including pensioners and people not in employment, already live in another member state. EU rules ensure that they get the social and health benefits they are entitled to. These rules determine which national system they are subject to and aim to prevent them being left without protection or being covered twice.

Coordination, not harmonisation

EU legislation covers sickness, parental leave, family, unemployment and similar benefits. However, EU countries remain responsible for their social security systems. It is up to them to decide which benefits are granted, under which conditions and which contributions are to be paid. EU rules only coordinate the interaction between national systems.

What does it mean in practice?

As a basic rule, people who live and work in another EU country are subject to the legislation of the country where they actually work. Job seekers can get unemployment benefits from their country of origin during a certain period in another member state where they are looking for a job, while pensioners who have worked in different countries can combine periods of insurance to get a full pension. Finally, tourists have access to health services via the European Health Insurance Card during temporary stays.