Social security: employed and self-employed persons, members of their families moving within the Community (amend. Regulations (EEC) No 1408/71 and (EEC) No 574/72), changes in national legislations since the end of accession negotiations

2004/0284(COD)

PURPOSE: to amend Council Regulations 1408/71/EEC on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their family moving within the Community.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation 629/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation 1408/71/EEC on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and the members of their families moving within the Community and Council Regulation 574/72/EEC laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation 1408/71/EEC.

CONTENT: in agreeing on this Act the EU, by amending Regulations 1408/71 and 574/72, has allowed for a simplification of procedures concerning provisions relating to “benefits in respect of accidents at work and occupational diseases”.

The simplified procedures are an extension of those enshrined in Regulation 631/2004/EC for obtaining access to sickness benefits in kind ruing a temporary stay in another Member State. (See COD/2003/0138).

The amendments also take account of changes in the legislation of the new Member States, who acceded on 1 May 2004.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 28 April 2008. However, in order to ensure legal certainty and in order to protect the legitimate expectations of persons affects, certain provisions (namely those in Annex III of Regulation 1408/71) will take effect retroactively from 1 May 2004.