New EU Regulations on social security coordination are replacing regulations which have been in place since the early 1970s, and which Malta has applied since it joined the EU in 2004.
The aim of the new regulation is to make life easier for Europeans on the move. The rules apply not only to workers and their families, but will also help pensioners, job seekers and tourists.
The new regulations do not create any new entitlements to social security, but guarantee that rights in the area of sickness insurance, pensions, unemployment and family benefits are preserved in the event of moving within Europe.
The main changes guarantee more and better information which must be provided actively and delivered rapidly by the social security institutions in member states. Services provided must be user-friendly. Institutions should communicate with the citizen in a way that could be easily understood.
Simpler and more efficient procedures should lead to quicker and simpler services for citizens, cutting red tape and reducing the administrative burden for public services.
A major new information network would be launched to enable institutions in different countries to exchange information electronically. The new system would eliminate around 2,000 paper forms and the formalities to be completed by citizens would be streamlined.
More people can benefit through this updated coordination system which has a broader scope since, besides workers and their families, it covers people who are currently out of work, not yet in work or no longer working – so more people will benefit.
The provisions cover anyone who moves to another EU country to settle permanently, work temporarily or study, and even those who are travelling for a holiday. Mobile workers, jobseekers, retired people and tourists would benefit from the system.
By May 1, 2012, all EU countries should be using this network to exchange information between social security institutions and for all areas covered by coordination. Training activities are ongoing in Malta as in all of the member states. The European Commission is lending its support to these efforts.