Social security coordination

Social security coordination in the European Union is a legal framework designed to facilitate the free movement of EU citizens across Member States while ensuring the protection of their social security rights. Established on the principles of equal treatment, export of benefits, insurance in a single country at a time and the aggregation of insurance records, this coordination mechanism enables individuals to access social security benefits in a manner that transcends national borders. 

Around 5.5 million attestations of insurance coverage (PD A1) are issued each year to workers in cross-border situations (reference year 2023). More than 253 million European Health Insurance Cards are in circulation and over 6.3 million pensions are transferred to persons residing in a different European country (reference year 2023).  

ELA serves as a platform for the exchange of information and good practices, promoting consistency and cooperation among diverse national social security systems. ELA’s activities aim to facilitate collaboration among Member States' authorities, ensuring the effective implementation of EU social security regulations. The Authority also improves access to information on rights and obligations on social security coordination for individuals and employers. In addition, ELA supports the enforcement of social security legislation in Member States through the organisation of joint and concerted inspections and it carries out analysis and risk assessment.

Ongoing activities

ELA supports a diverse range of activities related to social security:

• support of implementation of Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (the EESSI system) with the PROGRESS programme, including workstreams on trainings, good practices sharing, national implementation mapping and end user support;
• cooperation and joint projects with the Administrative Commission for Coordination of Social Security Systems;
• strategic analysis and risk assessment studies on selected topics in the field of social security coordination, such as fraud and error, new patterns of work, and cross-border digital services;
• coordination and support of cross-border inspections related to social security;
• improve access to information concerning social security coordination through awareness-raising campaigns informing individuals and employers of their rights and obligations, (peer or expert) reviews of European and national online information sources, translation of information, local information events and updates of EURES portal information on living and working conditions;
• training of national authorities and EURES advisers on social security coordination;
• promotion of bilateral and multilateral collaboration between Member States' social security authorities

See also

• DG Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion on EU social security coordination 
• For businesses: Your Europe on social security 
• For citizens: Your Europe on social security systems in the EU 
• Official documents - Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion - European Commission
• Your Europe Advice 
• Solvit 
• The EU's Mutual Information System on Social Protection (MISSOC)