
European Parliament decides not to decide
The EU Parliament did not discuss the provisional agreement to amend the Regulation on the coordination of social security systems.
MM – 04/2019
In
its last week of this legislature, the European Parliament (EP) decided by a
very narrow majority of 291 votes to 284 (and 6 abstentions) not to vote on the
trialogue agreement between the European Parliament, the European Commission
and the European Council amending the Regulations coordinating social security
systems. However, MEPs did agree that there is further need for negotiations.
Regulations (EC) No 883/2004 and No 987/2009 regulate the coordination of
social security systems in cross-border situations.
Need for amendment
In
view of the case law of the European Court of Justice and socio-political
developments, there has been a need for change in the regulations currently in
force. The regulations on unemployment benefits, long-term care benefits,
access to social benefits for persons who are not gainfully employed, family
benefits and applicable legislation for posted workers and persons who are
gainfully employed in two or more Member States need to be amended.
The
main points of discussion are repeatedly the accumulation, exportability and
coordination of unemployment insurance benefits for border workers and
cross-border workers. However, the question of family benefits as wage
replacement benefits and their amount are also controversial, especially if
benefits for children are granted in a Member State other than the parent’s
place of residence and the Member States involved have different national
income or living standards.
What happens next?
As
soon as the new European Parliament has been constituted, the Conference of
Presidents (the President of Parliament and the chairs of the political groups)
may decide to continue the dossier, making use of the work that has been done
so far, or to start the review of the dossier afresh.
The
new European Parliament is therefore not bound by the previous first reading of the proposal.