The European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, provided assurances that he would do his utmost to speed up the introduction of a European Social Security Pass (ESSP), during a plenary session debate in Strasbourg on Monday 22 November.
Responding to MEPs’ request to present the ESSP in 2022 instead of 2023 as envisaged by the European Commission, the Commissioner was instead reassuring without making a firm commitment. “I have made a commitment that 2023 is the final deadline and I will do what I can - and a little bit what I can’t - to speed up this process”, he told MEPs.
Faced with persistent questions from MEPs on why the plan for a European Social Security Number (ESSN) was abandoned in early 2021, Schmit said the instrument was premature.
“There has been a lot of talk about the European social security number. I think that was perhaps going too far, too fast”, he said, referring to the internal study that had motivated the decision to abandon the number, which had been planned by the ‘Juncker’ Commission (see EUROPE 12913/18).
A failed pilot project
The Commissioner stressed the importance of the ongoing pilot project with Italy on ESSP (see EUROPE 12814/15). He expressed his concern and regret at the lack of commitment of the Member States to the project.
“I am pleased to notice that so far 14 countries expressed their interest in the project, but I also have to say that I regret to see that none of them committed to participate in the testing of the solutions with the Italian Social Security Institution”. He said it was “essential” that Member States and their relevant institutions commit to the pilot project, so that it can progress to a finalised digital system.
The Commissioner assured MEPs that he would be sending a letter to the ministers responsible for social issues to really get involved in the project.
Internal evaluation of ESSN criticises form rather than substance
Furthermore, the Commission responded positively to the MEPs’ request and transmitted the impact assessment at the end of last week. The study, obtained by EUROPE, shows that the institution’s Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) gave a negative opinion.
According to the report, the impact assessment “does not show” that the objective of setting up an electronic system for verifying the social security rights of European citizens “would require a European social security number”.
According to a source close to the case, the committee’s assessment criticises the form of the proposal rather than the substance. And he commented: “The Commission changed its mind, more because of opposition from Member States than because of insurmountable technical difficulties”.
For the minutes of the RSB Committee: https://bit.ly/30PaMCk (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)