“Progress on social security coordination reform cannot be sacrificed easily”, declared the European Parliament on Friday 13 June, as prospects for further work with the EU Council on the revision of the Regulation on the coordination of social security systems have diminished in recent days (see EUROPE 13658/23).
“After eight years of intense negotiations and countless efforts by Parliament to find up-to-date solutions that would simplify and improve social security coordination in the EU for European businesses, millions of mobile citizens and the institutions involved, all the progress that has been made is now at risk”, lamented European Parliament rapporteur Gabriele Bischoff (S&D, German).
“This reform would bring real progress for about 14 million European workers and cannot be sacrificed easily. The deal is within reach and all parties involved must shoulder their responsibility. The Parliament negotiating team is ready to work further on a compromise and seal a deal with the current Presidency until the end of its term”.
“The Employment Committee remains committed to constructive dialogue. The European Parliament stands ready and willing to engage in serious negotiations to deliver the much-needed and long-awaited reform of the social security rules. It is essential that all institutions work together in a spirit of cooperation to secure tangible results that will benefit all EU citizens”, stated the Chair of the European Parliament Employment Committee, Li Andersson (The Left, Finnish).
“While we recognise the efforts made by the Polish presidency to obtain a revised mandate from the Council, we must express our great disappointment at the risk of losing momentum in these crucial negotiations. We urge the Polish presidency to come back to the negotiating table and to spare no efforts so that we do not miss out on this precious opportunity to close this file”, added the Finn.
On 13 June, the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) and the Polish trade union ZZ Budowlani also urged the Polish Presidency to “finalise the negotiations” with an agreement “which ensures mandatory prior notification for the construction sector”, they said in a press release. The European Trade Union Confederation has also called on the co-legislators to continue their work, as have a number of member countries, which have also, according to some sources, asked the Presidency to maintain the trilogues.
The Polish Presidency is of the opinion that it does not have sufficient flexibility when it comes to the EU Council's mandate. It also criticises the European Parliament for adding new elements, such as sanctions and personal data, which it believes would not make things any easier.
At the time of going to press, the Presidency seemed to be moving towards postponing or even halting the negotiations; the situation, however, remains fluid. Agence Europe will come back to this. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)