Social Security: No qualified majority amongst Member States
Despite the provisional agreement reached in the “trilogue” negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council, the representatives of the Member States (COREPER) did not reach the qualified majority needed to endorse such agreement.17 countries supported the agreement, but another group of countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Sweden) constituted a sufficient minority to block it.
The main criticisms concern the anticipated duration of unemployment benefits, the provisions regarding prior notification before a worker is sent to another Member State and the proposed extension of the period of transition from the State of residence to the State of activity.
The discussions in the Council will continue, but no precise timetable has been set yet. The vote in the European Parliament has therefore also been cancelled for the moment. With the EU elections approaching, the approval of the revised Regulation on Social Security looks less certain with every passing day.
|