Europaudvalget 2020-21
EUU Alm.del Bilag 132
Offentligt
Denmark
A European Social Security Number to facilitate free and fair movement of
workers in the EU
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Free movement of people and services is a prerequisite for a strong and competitive EU. Historically, the
free movement has benefitted both workers, consumers, companies and society by establishing common,
fair and equal rules.
Although free and fair movement is a common objective of the EU and the Member States, shortcomings in
the current framework still need to be addressed. Instances of fraud and abuse by unscrupulous companies
highlight the need for stronger enforcement and more effective control measures at EU level to support
fair labour mobility. Meanwhile, many workers are at risk of being exploited as a result of lacking
awareness of their own rights in an employment relationship. Here, there is a need to improve and simplify
workers’ access and knowledge of their rights, especially in cross-border
situations.
Important steps have already been taken to promote fair mobility in the EU. The newly established
European Labour Authority (ELA) will work to prevent fraud and abuse of the EU labour mobility rules by
strengthening cross-border cooperation and enforcement. Workers’
access to information about their
working conditions will be enhanced by the Directive on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions,
while the revisited Posting of Workers Directive improves fair mobility for posted workers. Moreover,
important steps were taken through the Mobility Package to ensure equal pay for equal work in the
transport sector.
Still, we need to do more to promote free and fair mobility and avoid downwards pressure on working
conditions and workers’ rights. A system for the identification of mobile workers and posted workers would
be a tangible result in that regard. Denmark thus invites the Commission to revive its efforts for a European
Social Security Number. In this regard, we warmly welcome the call of the European Parliament in their
resolution of 19 June 2020 for the Commission to put forward an impact assessment regarding the
proposal.
A central purpose of a European Social Security Number would be to make it easier for public authorities to
prove the identity and facilitate the exchange of valid and accurate information including the employment
relationship of mobile workers and posted workers. It should assist in ensuring that all companies adhere to
the regulation and legislation in the EU. Ideally, a social security number would also promote smooth and
efficient data exchange between authorities in different Member States potentially reducing administrative
burdens.
As we strive to restore the European economies and mitigate the consequences of COVID-19, protection of
workers must remain at the top of our agenda. A European Social Security Number would simplify
workers’
access to information of their rights and make it easier for them to present proof of identification and to
share information in cross-border situations hereby reducing the risk of exploitation.
 EUU, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 132: Notat om dansk høringssvar vedr. Kommissionens offentlige høring om handlingsplan for den europæiske søjle af sociale rettigheder
An impact assessment should look into the possibility to include the following information about mobile
workers and posted workers in a proposal to establish a European Social Security Number:
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Information about the employment relationship and employment conditions such as information
on the employer, the workplace, the working period and contractual relationships
Social security coverage status
Relevant insurance information
Information on tax payments
For a social security number to fulfil the abovementioned purposes it must be supported by the necessary
infrastructure. In this regard, the introduction of a physical ID card for mobile workers and posted workers
would add significant value to a digital infrastructure. However, conclusions on relevant design and
infrastructure should await the findings of a thorough impact assessment.
The impact assessment should further explore the possibilities and challenges associated with a new
central information database at the EU-level or rather an EU-interface connected to national databases.
Account must be taken of existing structures and tools such as the Information system for the Internal
Market (IMI), Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI), the Single Digital Gateway (SDG)
including the once-only principle and the ongoing eIDAS review, while respecting the division of
competences between Member States and the Commission, the autonomy of social partners and the
principles of the Internal Market. Experience and learnings from existing structures must be taken into
account in due course to avoid disproportionate administrative and economic costs and ensure solid data
protection of any personal data. It should be noted that a social security number cannot in itself provide a
guarantee for identity. Special attention should therefore be paid to ensure secure registration processes,
issuance and documentation. Finally, a European Social Security Number must be without prejudice to
national personal numbers and registration schemes.
Denmark believes that a properly designed European Social Security Number would be an important step
to fight fraud and abuse in the EU and ensure better cooperation between Member States while improving
the protection of workers and we remain available for further consultations on this matter.