European Parliament approves revision of social security coordination rules

On Tuesday, the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg voted to revise EU rules regarding the coordination of social security systems, specifically amending regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009. The legislative text passed with 511 votes in favor, 87 against, and 61 abstentions, with all six Cypriot MEPs voting in favor. The revision aims to provide clearer access to social security for mobile EU workers by establishing precise criteria for determining which national legislation applies. It also promotes improved information exchange between member states to combat fraud, such as abuses linked to letterbox companies. Regarding unemployment benefits, the update clarifies how periods of work or insurance in different member states are aggregated to assess rights. Individuals seeking work in another EU country will be entitled to receive unemployment benefits from their country of origin for six months, with the possibility of extension until their entitlement period ends. The rules also clarify the responsibility of member states for providing benefits to cross-border workers.