Brussels, 19/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - Last week, with the adoption, without debate, of the report by British Green member Jean Lambert, the EP approved at first reading, according to codecision procedure, the proposal of amendment for Regulation 1408/71 relating to application of social security systems for workers and their family members who move around within the Community (see also EUROPE of 17 February, p.13, on the subject of the resolution adopted in plenary on the legal base to be applied to modification of this regulation and to its enlargement to third country nationals).
The regulation aims to coordinate the social security systems of the different Member States. This text, which is regularly adjusted according to the changes made by any country to its social security system and the different rulings of the Court of Justice, has become extremely complex and difficult to apply over time. Many citizens consider it is very difficult for them to find any clear information on their rights and to have these rights acknowledged. In April 2000, the European Commission put forward a proposal aimed at revising and simplifying the text. Some changes aim at extending the scope of the regulation to students, while others stipulate that changes recently made by some Member States (France, United Kingdom) to their national legislation should be taken into account.
Jean Lambert welcomes the improvements proposed by the Commission, considering they would provide those concerned with greater protection, an aspect that is increasingly important given that economic changes require a greater capacity for adjustment on the part of the public and consequently exposes them to greater everyday risks.