EU social security coordination: what changes for worker mobility?
On 28th September 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted a new regulation on the coordination of national social security systems within the EU. The reform introduces changes affecting, in particular, the posting of workers, work in two or more Member States and unemployment benefits for mobile workers.It aims to provide clearer rules for cross-border workers and strengthen cooperation between national authorities.
- Legal
Posting of workers: new requirements for employers
The new regulation introduces several changes to the rules governing the posting of workers within the European Union.
Before the assignment begins, employers will be required to notify the competent social security institution to obtain the A1 certificate, which certifies the social security legislation applicable to the employee.
In addition, workers will need to have been covered by the social security system of the sending Member State for at least three months before being posted. The maximum posting period will remain 24 months.
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Business trips and certain short-term activities not exceeding three consecutive working days within a period of 30 consecutive days will be exempt from these formalities.
However, this exemption will not apply to activities in the construction sector.
Working in two or more Member States: clarified criteria
Where an employee works in two or more EU Member States, the legislation of only one Member State will continue to apply.
The regulation clarifies the criteria used to determine which Member State’s social security legislation applies, particularly where it is necessary to identify the employer’s registered office or place of business.
These clarifications are intended to facilitate the consistent application of the rules by national authorities.
Unemployment: new rules for mobile and cross-border workers
The reform also introduces changes to the coordination of unemployment benefits.
When workers move to a new Member State, they will now need to complete at least one month of insurance or employment in that State before periods completed in other Member States can be taken into account to establish entitlement to unemployment benefits.
The regulation also provides that jobseekers looking for work in another Member State will be able to continue receiving their unemployment benefits for a minimum period of six months.
For cross-border workers, the Member State of last employment will become responsible for paying unemployment benefits after 22 weeks of insurance, provided that the worker has completed this period in that State.
When will the new rules apply?
The regulation will come into force on the first day of the month following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
However, most of the measures will only take effect after a 24-month transitional period. During this period, the current rules on the coordination of social security systems will continue to apply.