The first interinstitutional negotiations (trilogue) organised on the evening of Tuesday 3 June between the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the team of the European Parliament’s rapporteur, Gabi Bischoff (S&D, German), on the revision of the rules for coordinating social security schemes were not particularly positive and proved to be “a bit disappointing” said the German MEP on Wednesday 4 June in the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.
Having decided to resume political negotiations, which have been on hold since the Spanish Presidency, at the end of 2023, the two co-legislators are said to have made very little progress towards a possible agreement, with the most controversial points remaining unemployment benefits for frontier workers, the duration of the export of these benefits and the applicable legislation and prior notifications for the posting of workers (see EUROPE 13652/21).
For the rapporteur, an agreement is still “possible” when a new trilogue is scheduled for 17 June, and it will be necessary to evaluate the elements in the coming days. But she acknowledged the difficulties within Member States, particularly over unemployment benefits and the question of “money”.
She also regretted that the Presidency had only put forward proposals on 2 June. In her remarks, she remained in line with the mandate obtained in April, namely the rejection of a derogation for the construction sector with regard to notifications of postings for missions of less than three days, but with the possibility of creating a measure for emergency situations, the rejection of a longer period for exporting unemployment benefits for workers who have paid contributions for a long time in the country of employment, and the retention without clarification of a range of 18-22 weeks for minimum affiliation to the social insurance system of a country of employment in order for that country to become responsible for unemployment benefits.
On the question of pluriactivity, she also set out criteria in a recital.
These proposals had already been judged disappointing by Parliament, which saw no concessions towards it. At the trilogue meeting, things did not move any further, with a slight opening possibly being made on the construction sector, according to another source.
For Gabi Bischoff, reaching an agreement on this issue dating back to 2016 is crucial, because it is not just a question of coordinating the rules, but also of “acceptance” by the public of the free movement of workers, if the right rules are in place. It's also about combating social dumping and ‘fair mobility’.
“We will be meeting the Presidency next week to take stock of the situation and to see whether any additional preparation is needed ahead of the trilogue” scheduled for 17 June, added the rapporteur, who reiterated that “the basis of an agreement is first and foremost a matter of will”.
According to a diplomatic source, the aim of this trilogue “was to relaunch the political discussions that had been suspended for a year and a half. Our aim was to take stock of the position of each party and to explore the possible room for manoeuvre on an issue that has been particularly sensitive in the past. This frank exchange was a significant step forward after a long pause”.
But the Presidency’s mandate “represents a carefully negotiated balance, which must be respected”, according to this source. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)