The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs adopted the report presented jointly by Marian HARKIN (ALDE, IE) and Jean LAMBERT (Greens/EFA, UK) on the proposal for a regulation laying down emergency measures in the field of social security coordination following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union.
The proposal for a Regulation laying down emergency measures in the field of social security coordination following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union aims to mitigate some of the negative impacts of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the Union in the absence of solutions agreed with the United Kingdom.
It aims to safeguard the social security entitlements of Union citizens with regard to facts or events occurring and periods that were completed prior to the withdrawal date of the United Kingdom from the Union. For other persons concerned (stateless persons, refugees, as well as family members and survivors of all the above-mentioned categories), these rights would also be preserved in such situations.
The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission's proposal as follows:
Entry into force
The Regulation shall ensure that Member States will continue to implement the fundamental principles of social security coordination in the EU laid down in Regulation (EC) No 883/2004, namely equal treatment, assimilation and aggregation of insurance periods.
Relationship between this regulation and other coordination instruments
The rules would not affect existing social security conventions and agreements between the United Kingdom and one or more Member States that comply with Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 and Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 987/2009.
Moreover, the Regulation would not affect any competence of the Union or the Member States to conclude conventions and agreements on social security with third countries or with the United Kingdom covering the period after the date on which the treaties cease to apply in the United Kingdom.
Members also underlined the importance of ensuring that appropriate information is available in a timely manner to the persons concerned.
Report
One year after the date of application of the regulation, the Commission should report on its application. This report would address in particular the practical problems encountered by the persons concerned, in particular those arising from the lack of continuity in the coordination of social security systems.