Brussels, 19/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - The EP's employment and social affairs committee has adopted the report of British Green, Jean Lambert. It is therefore supporting the Commission proposal for simplifying Regulation 1408/71, which frames Community legislation on social security. This regulation has become complicated following several amendments and aims to, "guarantee a person moving freely through the EU that they will not be at any disadvantage in relation to a person who has always worked and resided in a single Member State…it does not intend to harmonise the social security systems of Member States but to coordinate cross-border aspects of the different systems".
In its proposal, the Commission has notably enlarged the application of the regulation "to any person covered by the legislation on social security" and introduces pre-retirement systems in the field of application. It also stipulates that the social security systems covered in the coordinaion are not exhaustive. This provision is opposed by the Council but is supported by MEPs as it leaves a "margin for manoeuvre for other developments".
The employment committee has, however, adopted some amendments that aim to introduce special provisions for retired cross-border workers, which guarantee people who leave their jobs in a Member State because of family reasons, the guarantee that they will not lose their rights to unemployment benefits and that people who are disabled who change from one Member State to another and lose certain payments for a time, will be helped. Another amendment enlarges the definition of the family for recognising other kinds of marriage allowed in different Member States. MEPs have also adopted a provision allowing Member States to "conclude agreements between themselves, if necessary, to respect the principles and spirit of the regulation".
According to the Commission representative, this will allow for agreement on a large number of these amendments.