Where the law stands, Dossier 2016/0397(COD)
Coordination of social security systems
Ordinary legislative procedure (COD): Parliament and the Council decide together as equals. · First reading
A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.
Where it stands
Plenary vote
Parliament approved the text agreed with the Council on 7 July 2026. The Council must now adopt it formally before it is published as law.
- Referred to committee(done) 19 January 2017
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 20 November 2018
- Tabled for plenary(done) 23 November 2018
- Negotiations with the Council(done) Deal approved in committee 6 May 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 7 July 2026
- Published as law(to come)
Decided in plenary
7 July 2026 · decision 2
Jobs, social affairs & equality, New EU law
Coordination of social security systems
Passed 511 for · 87 against · 61 abstained by a large majority
AI summary:The law aims to make it easier for people moving within Europe to keep their social security rights, including unemployment benefits, long-term care, and family benefits.
What changed
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:Adds extensive new recitals on disability, long-term care, and social security cards, and deletes several recitals from the old version. Changes unemployment benefit rules: aggregation period reduced to one day, export extended to six months, and new provisions for cross-border workers. Introduces new provisions on long-term care benefits, including definitions, lists, and coordination rules. Modifies posting rules: duration limits, prior link periods, and substantial activity criteria. The other changes are formal or wording: updated references, punctuation, and rephrasing.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Employment and Social Affairs
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Gabriele Bischoff (S&D)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Jeroen Lenaers (EPP), Marie Dauchy (Patriots), Francesco Torselli (ECR), Jana Toom (Renew), Gordan Bosanac (Greens), Rudi Kennes (The Left)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 7 Jul 2026
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation updates EU rules coordinating national social security systems, covering long-term care, unemployment, family benefits, and administrative cooperation.
Tabled for plenary· 23 Nov 2018
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation updates EU rules coordinating national social security systems, covering long-term care, unemployment, family benefits, and administrative cooperation.
Committee draft· 20 Nov 2017
AI summary:This draft report proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal to update EU rules coordinating national social security systems. It covers unemployment benefits, long-term care, posting of workers, and administrative cooperation.
Timeline
Newest first.
Plenary stage 3 steps
7 July 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 7 Jul 2026 Adopted text TA10-0239/2026Report A8-0386/2018
6 July 2026
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
Sitting of 6 Jul 2026 Council / Commission text C8-0521/2016Report A8-0386/2018
1 July 2026
2 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
Negotiations with the Council 3 steps
6 May 2026
Committee approved the deal reached with the Council
The provisional agreement from the trilogues goes to the whole Parliament for a vote.
22 April 2026
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
3 June 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
Plenary stage 1 step
18 April 2019
Plenary vote
Negotiations with the Council 1 step
11 December 2018
Plenary endorsed the mandate to negotiate with the Council
Parliament’s negotiators can now seek a compromise text with the Council (in “trilogues”).
Plenary stage 2 steps
11 December 2018
Plenary vote
23 November 2018
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 3 steps
20 November 2018
Committee vote: report adopted
EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
20 November 2017
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
19 January 2017
Referred to the EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2016/0397(COD)