As part of the ongoing interinstitutional negotiations on the revision of the Regulation on the coordination of social security systems, the Netherlands recently circulated a document in the European Parliament in which it denounces the perverse effects of exporting unemployment benefits for too long and, instead, suggests a "tailor-made approach", according to a document consulted on Tuesday 19 February.
This document follows Parliament's recent proposals in the interinstitutional negotiations to introduce the export of unemployment benefits for 6 months or more, particularly for frontier workers (see EUROPE 12195), and is reportedly a counter-offensive by the Netherlands, which in any case has never seen the revision of the text with any particular enthusiasm.
According to the country, an extension of the export of benefits would thus have perverse effects, including extending the period of unemployment or even increasing the chances of falling into long-term unemployment. To support its argument, the Dutch government explains that only 0.5% of people who export their social benefits find work within three months in another Member State, while this rate is 46% at national level over the same period.
Therefore, according to Amsterdam, this extension would go against the principles of European law, in particular Article 3 of the Treaty of the European Union, which emphasises that Europe "shall aim for full employment and social progress", or Agenda 2020, which provides inter alia for the fight against exclusion and the risk of poverty.
The Dutch government adds in substance in its document that, by a "mirror effect", this export would reportedly allow other Member States to export their unemployed persons, raising fears without saying so of a "social tourism" organised at the European level.
For Amsterdam, the best approach would be a “customized approach” to give Member States the choice of whether or not to extend the export of social benefits.
The approach promoted by the Netherlands is reportedly supported by Austria, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Denmark.
According to one diplomatic source, Member States reportedly rejected the approach proposed by the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU to divide the Regulation into several axes in order to preserve a "per package" approach. According to another diplomatic source, the will of some Member States is to "let the matter die" under this mandate, to take it back once the European Parliament is renewed.
In contrast, in the eyes of a third source, the negotiations are progressing well. The Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU plans to go before the Permanent Representatives Committee next week and hopes to conclude an interinstitutional agreement under its mandate.
France, Portugal, Italy, Spain and Slovenia are reportedly particularly keen to close this case as soon as possible.
The next interinstitutional meeting is scheduled for Thursday 21 January. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)