Magazine ed*
ed* Nr. 03/2021

4. Outlook

In the future, all communications between the social insurance institutions as well as those between EU citizens and the social insurance institutions and, if necessary, verification by the labour inspectors, should be carried out without the need for paper to be used. Certificates will be verified in real time. This all sounds very good, but a lot of work is still needed as well as considerable investment not only at European level but also within the member states.

ed* Nr. 03/2021 – Chapter 6

As different as the social security systems are within the EU member states, the corresponding administrative structures, the digital technologies used by them and the administrative procedures embodied in these technologies all differ as well. It will take a long time to make them all compatible throughout the EU and to enable data and information to be exchanged. EESSI has clearly shown this to be true. An EU-ID, which is a main condition for implementing the ESSP project, will also require further adjustments to be made in the member states and it cannot be implemented in the short term.


Full digitisation in the social security sector and coordinating the systems in cross-border situations as well as implementing the objectives to be pursued through digitisation are both necessary and desirable. Simplifications such as paperless communications will be welcomed. Interlinking the specific projects is precisely where efficiency will be gained and the potential for all actors involved will become apparent. However, as desirable as implementing the projects is, a structured approach is needed so that those involved in the implementation, i.e., the social insurance institutions, can keep up.