If you work in Germany but live in Poland, or left France to look for a job in Spain, the question of which country owes you benefits has long been a legal minefield. After nearly a decade of failed negotiations, the EU has finally reached a deal to fix that, and Parliament’s Employment Committee gave it the green light today. A plenary vote is now the last step before new rules covering over 11 million mobile workers can enter into force.
The Employment and Social Affairs Committee backed the provisional agreement by 47 votes to three, with four abstentions. The deal, reached on 22 April between Parliament and EU governments, updates rules that determine which country’s social security system applies when someone works or lives across borders, covering unemployment benefits, family allowances, long-term care, and posted workers.
Negotiations have dragged on since December 2016, with previous rounds collapsing before a breakthrough finally came last month. The Council signalled its backing on 28 April.
What changes for workers
Under the new rules, the country where a person last worked for at least one uninterrupted month will pay their unemployment benefits. Workers who move abroad to look for a job keep their home country’s payments for up to six months. Cross-border workers insured for at least 22 consecutive weeks in a member state will have their benefits paid by that country.
Family benefits are also clarified, with a sharper distinction between cash payments that replace income for parents who reduce work to raise a child and other types of support. Long-term care gets a new legal definition, ending years of ambiguity for people who need care or provide it.
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Posted workers sent abroad for up to 24 months stay insured at home, provided they were covered there for at least three months before departure. A new prior notification system will require advance notice when workers operate across borders, with limited exceptions for short trips, but not in construction.
One vote away
Rapporteur Gabriele Bischoff (S&D/DEU) called the result a turning point after years of deadlock. “After almost 10 years of negotiations, this agreement shows that Europe can deliver. It protects workers, supports fair mobility, and strengthens trust between national systems,” she said.
After almost 10 years of negotiations, this agreement shows that Europe can deliver. It protects workers, supports fair mobility, and strengthens trust between national systems.
— Gabriele Bischoff, rapporteur, European Parliament (S&D/DEU)
Both Parliament and the Council must formally adopt the text before the rules enter into force. The legislation also requires member states to share information to tackle errors and abusive practices, including letterbox companies set up to dodge social security obligations.
