Press Release: European Commission calls for end to social security discrimination against non-EU nationals

The European Commission adopted a proposal on 6 February 2002 to end discrimination against third country nationals who are currently unable to maintain their social security rights when they move between EU countries to stay, live or work. The twin objectives of the initiative are to help the integration of third country nationals by providing for comparable rights and obligations to those of EU citizens and toencourage mobility of workers, including of non-EU nationals. The Commission proposal for a regulation, which will now be submitted to European Parliament for its opinion and the Council for adoption, potentially concerns 13 million non-EU citizens legally resident in the EU.