EU Commission proposes digital social security passport for workers
The European Commission has proposed a new package aimed at making it easier for workers to move between EU countries while accessing social security rights and having professional qualifications recognised across borders.
The Fair Labour Mobility package, adopted on September 15, includes five legislative proposals and a communication on fair labour mobility. One of its central measures is the proposed European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS), which would allow citizens to request, receive, store and present key social security documents digitally.
ESSPASS would bring social security documents into the EU digital wallet
Under the proposal, workers moving between EU countries would be able to obtain documents such as the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the Portable Document A1, which is used for workers temporarily posted to another EU country.
The documents would be available through the EU Digital Identity Wallet, allowing individuals to present them electronically while enabling national authorities to verify them more quickly and securely.
The Commission estimates that digitalisation over a 12-year period could save up to €64 million for businesses, €69 million for healthcare providers and €72 million for labour inspectors. Digital signatures could also help prevent up to €277 million in fraud, according to the Commission's estimates.
Faster recognition of professional qualifications
The package also proposes standardised digital formats for professional qualifications and a new EU tool for comparing qualifications issued in different member states.
For regulated professions such as doctors, nurses, engineers and teachers, the Commission proposes mandatory digital procedures for cross-border recognition. It estimates that the process could be reduced to five weeks from around three months under current procedures.
For qualifications obtained outside the EU, the Commission proposes common standards that could reduce the average recognition period from 14 months to four months, while cutting administrative costs for employers by up to 50%. The package also includes the first common European training framework for physiotherapists, which is intended to facilitate automatic recognition of qualifications in the profession.
Stronger role for European Labour Authority
Another proposal would expand the powers of the European Labour Authority (ELA) to support national authorities in enforcing EU labour-mobility rules.
The proposed changes include stronger cross-border cooperation, improved risk assessment for inspections, support for tackling illegal employment and exploitation, including involving third-country nationals, and a simplified mediation procedure for cross-border disputes.
Implementation would take place in stages
The proposals must first be considered and adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU before the new system can be implemented.
If the ESSPASS regulation enters into force, digitalisation would be phased in. The Portable Document A1 is expected to become digital one year after the regulation takes effect, followed by the European Health Insurance Card and other social security documents within three years.
The Commission says around 14 million EU citizens lived in another EU member state in 2024, including more than 10 million people of working age. It also cites a recent Eurobarometer finding that 18% of respondents would like to work in another country.
Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu said the measures are intended to make it easier for Europeans to work across the EU while protecting their social rights and enabling businesses to recruit workers with less administrative burden.
