EU social affairs ministers discuss the coordination of social security systems
The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) will meet in Brussels on 3 March. The Council will deal with the coordination of the social security systems in EU Member States and discuss the European Semester. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Pirkko Mattila will represent Finland at the meeting.
The EPSCO Council will discuss Member States’ views on the Commission’s proposal to revise the coordination of social security systems. This applies primarily to persons moving between the countries.
The Commission proposal aims at making mobility of labour inside the union easier and ensuring that mobile workers and tax-payers are treated with justice. The coordination of social security systems also aims to improve cooperation between authorities of different Member States.
In Finland’s view, the Commission’s proposal is well-balanced as a whole. However, the large package needs to be studied more thoroughly.
Minister Mattila says that the objectives of the proposal are good. The proposal tries to find a balance between free movement of people and fair division of costs between the Member States.
In Brussels Minister Mattila will also meet the Swedish Minister of Social Security Annika Strandhäll, the Danish Minister for Employment Troels Lund Poulsen and the Estonian Minister of Social Protection Kaia Iva. The topics of the Ministers’ bilateral discussions will relate to the regulation on the coordination and the Pillar of Social Rights. The Estonian Minister and Minister Mattila will also discuss the Estonian EU Presidency which will begin in July.
Inquiries:
Senior Officer Pirjo Pietilä-Kainulainen, tel. +358 (0)295 163 677