New European rules for social security open the doors to welfare tourism

“It is incomprehensible that Europe is ignoring the concerns of its citizens when it comes to maintaining a strong Social security Social security is currently managed at the Federal level in Belgium. The most important pillars of Belgian social security are: sickness and invalidity insurance (NIDHI), pensions, unemployment insurance and child allowances. In addition, occupational illness, occupational accidents and annual holidays are dealt with at this level. Some Flemish parties have been campaigning for years for (large parts of) social security to be transferred to the Regions and Communities. social security system.” MEP Helga Stevens is dismayed by the new European social security rules. Under them, EU citizens will be able to get unemployment benefits in Belgium after having worked for just one month. With the rules, the European Union is creating a raft of incentives for social welfare tourism. MEP Helga Stevens also criticises the ambiguous attitude of the CD&V. “There is a great discrepancy between words and deeds when it comes to that party,” she notes.

Social security at risk

The unemployment benefit for EU citizens after having worked for just one month is absolutely unacceptable for the N-VA. For example, Belgian unemployment benefits are very often a lot higher than a Bulgarian wage. The benefits can also be taken to different member states for six months. For frontier workers, this will even be possible for up to 15 months. During that export, it will be all but impossible for us to check whether that person is indeed actually looking for work. “That endangers the sustainability of our social security system,” says Helga Stevens.

Ambiguous CD&V

What is striking is the ambiguous attitude of the CD&V. In December, the CD&V MEPs abstained in the dossier. As recently as last Friday, Kris Peeters announced that he, together with other member states, would “continue to oppose a reduction in the period required for being able to benefit from a Belgian unemployment benefit as an EU employee.” This communication is in stark contrast with the eagerness of European Commissioner Marianne Thyssen (CD&V) to reach an agreement, even if doing so is at the cost of our social security. “There is a great discrepancy between words and deeds when it comes to that party,” Helga Stevens notes.

Extending the period

Thanks to the efforts of the N-VA, European newcomers today have to have worked for three months in Belgium before they are entitled to a Belgian unemployment benefit. On top of that, there was an agreement in the Michel I government to further increase this period to six months. This requirement to have worked for three months now threatens to be in violation of European law.

Common sense

The European Parliament and the Council still have to ratify the agreement. We can only hope that common sense will still prevail. “In particular we are curious to see whether Kris Peeters, as promised in the name of the outgoing federal government, can gather enough member states around him to block this agreement and as a result have it renegotiated in the next parliamentary term,” Helga Stevens concludes.