Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken by the European Union in the Joint Committee established under the Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons as regards the amendment of Annex II to that Agreement on the coordination of social security schemes
Date: 2014-10-02
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Switzerland, agreement (EU), free movement of persons, free movement of workers, revision of an agreement, social-security benefit, social-security harmonisation













EUR-Lex - 52014PC0611 - EN











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52014PC0611

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken by the European Union in the Joint Committee established under the Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons as regards the amendment of Annex II to that Agreement on the coordination of social security schemes /* COM/2014/0611 final - 2014/0283 (NLE) */









EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.           CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
On 1 June 2002, the Agreement between the
European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss
Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons (‘the Agreement’)
entered into force. Annex II to this Agreement provides for the coordination of
social security schemes.
Under Article 18 of the Agreement, the
Joint Committee on the free movement of persons may amend Annex II to the
Agreement. Article 2 of Decision 2002/309/EC[1],
provides that the Council, following a proposal from the Commission, will lay
down the position to be taken by the Union on decisions by the Joint Committee.
To ensure the consistent and correct
application of EU legislation, and to avoid administrative and possible legal
difficulties, Annex II to the Agreement needs to refer to all relevant EU
legislation and decisions of the Administrative Commission for the Coordination
of Social Security Systems. Annex II to the Agreement was therefore replaced by
Decision No 1/2012 of the Joint Committee of 31 March 2012. This Decision
created a modernised system to coordinate social security schemes, which had
become applicable within the EU on 1 May 2010, under Regulation (EC) No
883/2004 (as amended by Regulation (EC) No 988/2009), implementing Regulation
No 987/2009 and the decisions and recommendations of the Administrative
Commission. These three Regulations were also applicable to Switzerland.
Annex II to the Agreement now needs to be
amended to take account of the EU legislation that has come into force since
then, in particular amendments made by Commission Regulation (EU) No 1244/2010
of 9 December 2010[2],
Regulation (EU) No 465/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22
May 2012[3]
and Commission Regulation (EU) No 1224/2012 of 18 December 2012[4] to Regulation (EC) No
883/2004[5]
and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009[6].
To that end, the Commission presents this proposal
for a Council Decision on position that the Union should take in the Joint
Committee established by the Agreement. Following the Court of Justice ruling
of 27 February 2014 in case C-656/11 concerning the legal basis for taking
decisions, this proposal for a new Council Decision is based on Article 48 of
the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in conjunction with
Article 218(9) of the same Treaty. This proposal takes into account the text of
the draft Joint Committee decision, agreed at service level with the Swiss
authorities on 14 March 2013, and supports the consistent application of EU
legislation on the coordination of social security systems between the EU and
Switzerland.
Annex II to this Agreement should also be amended to
take account of the the Swiss Federal
Supplementary Benefits Act of 6 October 2006. This legal act replaced the one from 19 March 1965. The reason for the new law was the general revision of the tasks
distribution between the Federal State and the Cantons and their financing.
Neither the benefits nor the entitlement conditions were modified by it. The characteristics
and purpose of the benefits remain exactly the same. 
2.           RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS
WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
The version of Annex II in the attached
proposal results from technical discussions involving social security experts,
in particular experts from the Swiss social security administration and from
the European Union. Updating Annex II to the Agreement will simplify and
modernise the coordination of social security systems between Switzerland and
EU Member States, particularly through the implementation of Regulation (EU) No
465/2012. This will have a positive impact compared with existing legislation,
and will improve administrative procedures for all users of the Regulations,
including national social security authorities, employers (in particular small
and medium-sized businesses) and individual citizens.
3.           BUDGETARY IMPLICATION
The proposal does not have implications for
the EU budget.
2014/0283 (NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
on the position to be taken by the
European Union in the Joint Committee established under the Agreement between
the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss
Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons as regards the
amendment of Annex II to that Agreement on the coordination of social security
schemes
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 48, in
conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to Decision 2002/309/EC,
Euratom of the Council and of the Commission as regards the Agreement on
Scientific and Technological Cooperation, of 4 April 2002 on the conclusion of
seven agreements with the Swiss Confederation[7],
and in particular Article 2 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the
European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)       The Agreement between the
European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss
Confederation, of the other, on the Free Movement of Persons (hereinafter
referred to as ‘the Agreement’) came into force on 1 June 2002.
(2)       Article 18 of that
Agreement provides that the Joint Committee may, by decision, adopt amendments
to the Agreement, including to Annex II to the Agreement, dealing with the
co-ordination of social security schemes.
(3)       In order to maintain the
consistent application of Union legislation and to avoid administrative and
possible legal difficulties, Annex II to the Agreement needs to be amended to
include new legal acts of the Union to which the Agreement does not currently
refer.
(4)       The position of the Union
in the Joint Committee should therefore be based on the draft Decision set out
in the Annex to this Decision,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS 
Article 1
The position to be taken by the Union in
the Joint Committee established under Article 14 of the Agreement of 21 June
1999 between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and
the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons shall be
based on the draft Decision of the Joint Committee set out in the Annex to this
Decision.
Minor changes to the draft Decision may be
agreed to by the representatives of the Union in the Joint Committee without
further decision of the Council.
Article 2
After its adoption, the Decision of the
Joint Committee shall be published in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on
[…].
Done at Brussels,
                                                                       For
the Council
                                                                       The
President
[1]               Decision 2002/309/EC, Euratom of the Council, and of
the Commission as regards the Agreement on Scientific and Technological
Cooperation, of 4 April 2002 on the conclusion of seven Agreements with the
Swiss Confederation.
[2]               OJ L 338, 22.12.2010, p. 35.
[3]               OJ L 149, 8.6.2012, p. 4.
[4]               OJ L 349, 19.12.2012, p. 45.
[5]               OJ L 166, 30.4.2004, p. 1 as corrected in OJ L 200,
7.6.2004, p. 1; Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems
[6]               OJ L 284, 30.10.2009, p. 1; Regulation (EC) No
987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009
laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the
coordination of social security systems
[7]               OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p. 1.
ANNEX
Draft 
Decision No 1/2014
of the Joint Committee
established under the Agreement between 
the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, 
and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, 
on the free movement of persons
of 21 June 1999
amending Annex II to that Agreement on the coordination of social security
schemes

THE JOINT COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the Agreement between the
European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss
Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons[1] (‘the Agreement’) and
in particular Articles 14 and 18 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)              
The Agreement was signed on 21 June 1999 and
entered into force on 1 June 2002.
(2)              
Annex II to the Agreement on the coordination of
social security schemes was replaced by Decision No 1/2012 of the Joint
Committee of 31 March 2012[2].
(3)              
Annex II to the Agreement should  be updated to
take account of the new legal acts of the European Union legislation  that has
to come into force since then, in particular amendments to Regulation (EC) No
883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council[3] and Regulation (EC) No
987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council[4] brought about by Commission
Regulation (EU) No 1244/2010[5],
Regulation (EU) No 465/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council[6] and Commission
Regulation (EU) No 1224/2012[7].
(4)              
Account should also be taken of the decisions
and recommendations adopted by the Administrative Commission for the
Coordination of Social Security Systems to implement Regulation (EC) No
883/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 subsequent to the entry into force of
Decision No 1/2012 of the Joint Committee.
(5)              
Annex II to the Agreement should be updated in
line with changes to the relevant legal acts of the European Union,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
Annex II to the Agreement between the
European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss
Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons (‘the Agreement’)
is amended as set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision is established in the
Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French,
German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish,
Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish languages, the
texts in each of these languages being equally authentic.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the
first day of the second month following its adoption by the Joint Committee.
Done at Brussels.
                                                                       For
the Joint Committee
                                                                       The
Chairman
                                                                       The
Secretaries
ANNEX
Annex II to the
Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one
part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of
persons is amended as follows:
(1)          In Section A: Legal acts
referred to, Point 1, the words ‘as amended by Regulation (EC) No 988/2009
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 amending
Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems and
determining the content of its Annexes[8]’
shall be replaced by the following:
‘as amended by:
·               
 Regulation (EC) No 988/2009 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No
883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems and determining the
content of its Annexes[9];
·               
 Commission Regulation (EU) No 1244/2010 of
9 December 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European
Parliament and of the Council on the coordination of social security systems
and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the
Council laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC)
No 883/2004[10];
·               
Regulation (EU) No 465/2012 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2012 amending Regulation (EC) No 883/2004
on the coordination of social security systems and Regulation (EC)
No 987/2009 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC)
No 883/2004[11];
·               
 Commission Regulation (EU) No 1224/2012 of
18 December 2012 amending Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European
Parliament and of the Council on the coordination of social security systems
and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the
Council laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC)
No 883/2004[12].’.
(2)          In Section A: Legal acts
referred to, Point 1, under the heading ‘For the purposes of this
Agreement, Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 shall be adapted as follows:’, the entry
in letter h, point 1 the words ‘Federal Supplementary Benefits Act of 19 March
1965)’ shall be replaced by the following:
‘Federal
Supplementary Benefits Act of 6 October 2006’.
(3)          In Section A: Legal acts
referred to, Point 2, the following is inserted after the words ‘Regulation
(EC) No 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September
2009 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on
the coordination of social security systems[13]’:
‘as amended by
·               
 Commission Regulation (EU) No 1244/2010 of
9 December 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European
Parliament and of the Council on the coordination of social security systems
and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the
Council laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC)
No 883/2004[14];
·               
 Regulation (EU) No 465/2012 of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2012 amending Regulation
(EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems and
Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 laying down the procedure for implementing
Regulation (EC) No 883/2004[15];
·               
 Commission Regulation (EU) No 1224/2012 of
18 December 2012 amending Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European
Parliament and of the Council on the coordination of social security systems
and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the
Council laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC)
No 883/2004[16].’.
(4)          In Section A: Legal acts
referred to, Point 2, under the heading ‘For the purposes of this
Agreement, Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 shall be adapted as follows:’, the
following words shall be deleted:
‘Arrangement between
 Switzerland and Italy of 20 December 2005 fixing the special procedures for
the reimbursement of health care benefits’.
(5)          In Section B: Legal acts of
which the Contracting Parties shall take due account, the following is
added after Point 21:
‘(22)  Decision of the Administrative
Commission for the Coordination of Social Security Systems No E2 of
3 March 2010 concerning the establishment of a change management procedure
applying to details of the bodies defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EC)
No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council which are listed
in the electronic directory which is an inherent part of EESSI[17],
(23)   Decision of the Administrative
Commission for the Coordination of Social Security Systems No E3 of
19 October 2011 concerning the transitional period as defined in Article
95 of Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the
Council[18],
(24)   Decision of the Administrative
Commission for the Coordination of Social Security Systems No H6 of
16 December 2010 concerning the application of certain principles
regarding the aggregation of periods under Article 6 of Regulation (EC)
No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems[19],
(25)   Decision of the Administrative
Commission for the Coordination of Social Security Systems No S8 of
15 June 2011 concerning the granting of prostheses, major appliances and
other substantial benefits in kind provided for in Article 33 of Regulation
(EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems[20],
(26)   Decision of the Administrative
Commission for the Coordination of Social Security Systems No U4 of
13 December 2011 concerning the reimbursement procedures under Article
65(6) and (7) of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 and Article 70 of Regulation
(EC) No 987/2009[21].
(6)          In Section C: Legal acts of
which the Contracting Parties shall take note, the following is added after
Point 2:
‘(3)    Recommendation of the Administrative
Commission for the Coordination of Social Security Systems No S1 of
15 March 2012 concerning financial aspects of cross-border living organ
donations[22].’.
[1]               OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p. 6.
[2]               OJ L 103, 13.4.2012, p. 51.
[3]               Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social
security systems (OJ L 166, 30.4.2004, p. 1 as corrected in OJ L 200, 7.6.2004,
p. 1.)
[4]               Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 laying down the procedure
for implementing Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social
security systems (OJ L 284, 30.10.2009, p. 1.)
[5]               Commission Regulation (EU) No 1244/2010 of 9 December
2010 (OJ L 338, 22.12.2010, p. 35.)
[6]               Regulation (EU) No 465/2012 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2012 (OJ L 149, 8.6.2012, p. 4.)
[7]               Commission Regulation (EU) No 1224/2012 of 18
December 2012 (OJ L 349, 19.12.2012, p. 45.)
[8]               OJ L 284, 30.10.2009, p. 43.
[9]               OJ L 284, 30.10.2009, p. 43.
[10]             OJ L 338, 22.12.2010, p. 35.
[11]             OJ L 149, 8.6.2012, p. 4.
[12]             OJ L 349, 19.12.2012, p. 45.
[13]             OJ L 284, 30.10.2009, p. 1.
[14]             OJ L 338, 22.12.2010, p. 35.
[15]             OJ L 149, 8.6.2012, p. 4.
[16]             OJ L 349, 19.12.2012, p. 45.
[17]             OJ C 187, 10.7.2010, p. 5. [Electronic Exchange of
Social Security Information]
[18]             OJ C 12, 14.1.2012, p. 6.
[19]             OJ C 45, 12.2.2011, p. 5.
[20]             OJ C 262, 6.9.2011, p. 6.
[21]             OJ C 57, 25.2.2012, p. 4.
[22]             OJ C 240, 10.8.2012, p. 3.