Photo by Daria Mamont on Unsplash
The EU Commission has proposed steps to make it easier for Europeans to live, work and travel abroadIt tabled “concrete steps” to further digitalise the coordination of social security systems in Europe.
A dedicated communication lays out actions to make access to social security services quicker and simpler across borders by making full use of digital tools, reducing administrative burden for citizens and business.
The EU says this will improve the exchanges of information between national social security institutions and speed up the recognition and granting of eligible benefits across borders.
“It will thus make it easier for Europeans to live, work and travel abroad, for companies to do business in other EU countries, and for national administrations to coordinate social security across borders, “ said a spokesman.
The Communication also takes stock of the progress achieved so far in digitalising the coordination of social security, presents the ongoing initiatives in this area, and proposes future actions to make full use of the benefits that digitalisation can provide.
For citizens:
Citizens travelling, residing or working in another EU country often need to rely on physical paper or plastic documents to prove their social security rights, such as for healthcare, family benefits and pensions.
The EC says the initiative aims to enable the electronic verification of citizens’ digitalised social security documents which they can easily store and access, for instance on their smartphone.
“This digital approach will enable citizens to securely prove their entitlements within the EU countries, making access to social security services across borders quicker and simpler. It will not replace paper-based certificates but offer a more convenient and secure alternative for citizens who wish to do so.”
For workers:
Workers sent by their employer to another EU country need to provide proof that they are covered by the social security system of the country where they usually work.
The spokesman said, “The Commission’s plan sets out actions which, once implemented, will enable verification of workers’ social security coverage through a digital wallet, for instance on their smartphone, offering an easily accessible digital alternative to printed documents, which can be lost or are prone to falsification.
“This will also improve the protection of workers and ensure fair labour mobility, by allowing swift and correct verification of workers’ rights abroad.”
For businesses:
The actions outlined in the Commission’s plan aim to reduce burdensome procedures for businesses, including small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), for instance, when sending employees to another EU country for work.
The EC says both the request and the delivery of the necessary social security documents will be fully digitalised and become more user-friendly and efficient.
This, says the EC, will remove administrative costs and hurdles in the process for businesses that need those documents to carry out business abroad. Furthermore, this encourages cross-border mobility, ultimately stimulating sustainable growth and improving competitiveness.
Meanwhile, the European Commission has also unveiled a legislative proposal that will facilitate access to the right to free movement for persons with disabilities, by making sure they can, on an equal basis, access special conditions, preferential treatment, and parking rights when visiting another Member State.
The Commission’s proposal introduces a standardised European Disability Card and enhances the current European Parking Card for persons with disabilities. Both cards will be recognised throughout the EU.
