The European Parliament adopted by 598 votes to 59, with 38 abstentions, a resolution tabled by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee on the introduction of a European social security pass for improving the digital enforcement of social security rights and fair mobility.

Worker mobility within the EU has been on the rise in recent years: in 2019, 17.9 million people from the EU-28 moved to another EU country, 78% of whom were working. Active mobile citizens represented 4.3% of the total workforce in the EU-28 Member States in 2019.

Introducing a European social security pass

Parliament welcomed the Commission's commitment, under the European Pillar of Social Rights, to launch a pilot project to consider the introduction of a European social security pass. It called on the Commission to adopt a more ambitious content and timing and to launch, in parallel to the pilot project, an evaluation with a view to presenting a legislative proposal on the European social security card by the end of 2022, so as to ensure the portability and traceability of workers' rights as soon as possible.

Members believe that the European social security passport should be made compulsory for all Member States. The introduction of such a passport, together with a European e-ID, should aim to:

- ensure effective identification, traceability, accumulation and portability of social security rights;

- improve the application of EU rules on worker mobility and the coordination of social security systems in the labour market in an equitable manner;

- enable the competent national authorities, such as labour inspectorates, social security bodies and social partners, to verify in real time the insurance status and contributions of mobile workers;

- better prevent unfair practices such as abuse and social fraud, and thus help combat undeclared work.

According to Members, the European social security pass initiative should be without prejudice to national social security systems and respect the traditions of each Member State, national labour market models and the autonomy of social partners. It should not be a prerequisite for the exercise of the right to free movement but should facilitate access to information and improve the application of applicable rules on the coordination of social security systems and cross-border mobility.

The European pass should:

- cover all EU citizens and mobile workers, including the self-employed, as well as all mobile third-country nationals covered by EU rules on intra-EU mobility;

- include a system for real-time verification and monitoring, control and exchange of information by cross-checking national databases, in full compliance with EU rules on personal data protection

- enable real-time verification of the place of work, the place of employment, the employment relationship, the identity of workers, and standardised social security benefits, provisions and certificates;

- build on and complement the European Electronic Identity, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI).

The Commission is invited to present, in close cooperation with the European Labour Authority (ETA) and after evaluation, a legislative proposal for a European social security pass , with a view to providing national authorities with a real-time updated instrument for the effective application of national and European law.

PD AI form

The PD AI form is currently the only instrument for verifying the social security coverage of mobile workers.

Recognising the limitations and difficulties associated with the PD A1 procedure, Parliament called on the Commission and Member States to further improve the verification process for PD A1 forms , while stressing the need for swift procedures between Member States to address fraudulently obtained or used certificates.

The Commission is invited to ensure that the European Social Security Passport pilot project facilitates social security coverage by simplifying the procedures for applying for, issuing and verifying the PD A1 form in order to combat fraud.

Single national insurance number

Members recalled that, since 2014, Parliament has repeatedly asked the Commission to reflect on a legislative proposal for a single European social security number that could serve as a digital instrument for coordinating social security at EU level and ensuring fair mobility.

Regretting the absence of such a proposal, Parliament again called on the Commission to justify itself.