Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-02-14-Speech-3-228"
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"en.20010214.7.3-228"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Mr Rocard’s question is very important. The presidency therefore welcomes this opportunity to debate it and will of course be listening very carefully to the analyses of this issue by all participating Members.
As Mr Rocard points out in the question, the conclusions from the European Council in Tampere addressed equal treatment of third-country nationals who are legally resident in the EU or in the EEA, for example by according them rights and responsibilities similar to those of EU citizens. It is therefore necessary to adapt the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 with regard to harmonisation of social security systems. The rules for harmonisation contained in this regulation are a prerequisite for the free movement of persons.
If third-country nationals are covered, they will also receive the opportunity of guarantees for ‘acquired rights’. This is in contrast to the current situation in which harmonisation is only regulated through bilateral agreements, to the extent that such exist.
In 1998, before the European Council in Tampere, the Council received a proposal from the Commission aimed at expanding Regulation No 1408/71 to cover third-country nationals. This proposal was addressed by the Council in November 1999. However, the Council has not yet been able to reach a decision on the proposal, as there is unfortunately no agreement on the appropriateness of the proposal and its legal foundation.
In parallel with this, the Council is currently considering the Commission’s proposal on simplifying Regulation 1408/71. This proposal also advocates the regulation being expanded to cover third-country nationals. The Council is currently giving the proposal its first reading.
We are well aware of the criticism of the Council for the fact that this matter has taken so long. However, one should remember that we are addressing a technically very complicated subject. The technical review currently underway will help us to establish difficulties which may arise from an expansion of the scope of Regulation No 1408/71. The political negotiations necessary to complete the reforms will, without doubt, benefit from this detailed technical review.
With regard to Mr Rocard’s third question on consultation with candidate countries, there is no formal consultation either with the candidate countries or with the EEA countries."@en1
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