Social security systems differ significantly from one member state to another. Article 48 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides for their coordination, but not harmonisation. However, it is increasingly important for countries to refer to a legislation that keeps pace with the changing world of work and its needs. The political agreement finally reached last December, as reported by the European Parliament, aims “to ensure access to social security for EU workers who have moved to a different EU country, while fairly distributing obligations among member states”.

The text is not available yet, but Gabriele Bischoff, Vice-President and the European Parliament's negotiator on social security coordination, said the agreed rules offer better protection to mobile workers in need of long-term care, family benefits and aggregation and export of unemployment benefits.

She added that this new legislation is key for construction workers for example prevent fraud and lack of accident insurance in case of posted workers

or employees sent to another member state to work, that remain affiliated to the social security system of their country of origin.

This agreement, if endorsed by EU governments, “can bring more clarity and fairness to labour mobility in the EU”, she said, pointing out that “This provisional compromise improves mobile workers’ social rights while simplifying procedures. Today, we contributed to achieving progress on the basis of a difficult but essential compromise. This substantially improves the current regulation. It is therefore a good day for mobile workers in Europe as well as for many companies.”

The European Commission and national administrations are developing a network of national portals to provide information for citizens and businesses on how EU rules are applied in each EU country for cross-border users, as well as making available assistance services.