Brussels, 15/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 January, the European Parliament approved the changes brought to the regulation on the social security systems applicable to workers who move about within the Union. Such changes mainly aim to take account of developments in national legislation, introduce certain technical improvements and facilitate the coordination of social security systems. Cross-border workers may thus count on a more transparent definition of social conditions linked to mobility within the implementation framework of the “principle of mobility”, confirmed during the Lisbon Summit as the instrument for promoting employment.
Csaba Öry (EPP-ED, Hungary), the rapporteur, stressed the importance of the regulation. He also pointed out that this text dates back to 1971 and that, for now, it is simply a matter of updating it, especially given the changes made in a number of countries (in particular Ireland, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands and Austria). A new regulation which comprises a true recasting of this text has been approved but the implementation regulation has not yet been completed. In the meantime, annual examination of the regulation in force must make it possible to ensure legal certainty and to protect the growing number of workers who move from one country to the next within the Union. Legislation must be adopted and modernised at national level, as the matter comes under the scope of national competence. The rapporteur also defends the amendments which are the logical consequence of certain changes to national laws (for example, definition of “family member” for Hungary, situation of the families of military personnel posted abroad for the Netherlands).
In his capacity as rapporteur, Commissioner Stavros Dimas welcomed the good cooperation of institutions during this first reading. Despite its essentially technical aspects, the regulation affects the daily lives of citizens, by seeking to improve their legal situation and make it more transparent. The European Commission, for its part, is closely following Court of Justice jurisprudence with regard to cross-border healthcare provision, which is an important aspect of this legislation. According to Mr Dimas, this legislation is, in the long term, a key element of European integration.
Although questions relating to social security in Europe go far beyond the text under scrutiny, Italian Francesco Ferrera (ALDE) welcomed the fact that the rapporteur simply presented the amendments that were strictly necessary to ensure greater legal clarity. British Green member Jean Lambert, who will be presenting a report in coming months on the coordination of social security systems, stressed that the aim is not to reach harmonisation but coordination. National systems are not threatened but it is essential for national policies to come into line on the philosophy of the regulation, said Ms Lambert. MEPs who took the floor were adamant that it is above all necessary to protect the more vulnerable sections of the population, and Janusz Wojciechowski of Poland (UEN) considers that all member states have a duty to defend migrant workers, especially if they are the target of unjustified attack (such as the Polish workers in the first phases of the last enlargement). (L.G.)