欧盟-英国贸易与合作协定社会保障协调专门委员会第五次会议

14:00-16:00 GMT / 15:00-17:00 CET Hybrid Meeting Minutes 1.Welcome, opening remarks and adoption of the agenda-Co-chairs Theco-chairs welcomedinperson and onlinemeeting participantsand thankedthem for their attendance.The in-person delegates from both sides introducedthemselves.Theco-chairs thanked the Secretariats for progressing the items on theagenda. The agenda consisted ofsixitems andonematter for AOB. The agenda was formally adopted without modification. 2.Actions taken since last Specialised Committee, including adoption ofDecisionNo.1/2024 and cooperation on the correct application of theProtocol Theco-chairs commended the work of the Specialised Committee andtheSecretariats since lastyear'smeeting on 5thJune 2024. In particular, they highlightedthe adoption ofDecisionNo.1/2024,which updatedcertainannexestotheProtocolon Social Security CoordinationtotheTrade and CooperationAgreement(theTCAProtocol)whichcame into force on 6 December2024. One of the key changes made by thisdecisionwas toincrease healthcarereimbursement from the default 15% to 20%in countries using an average costcharging model to recover healthcare costs from other countries. These countriesareIreland, Spain, Cyprus, Portugal, Sweden and the UK. Theco-chairs commented on theeffective use of the written procedure to adopt thisdecision, providing effective outcomes in a timely manner. 3.Update on state of play on the possibility to derogate from the rules onapplicable legislation The UKand the EUwelcomedthe preparatory technical work carried out bytheSecretariats to explore the possibility to includea new provision in the implementingrules in Annex SSC-7 to the TCA Protocol, allowing States to derogate from the ruleson applicable legislation by common agreement in well-defined situations and in theinterest of the persons concerned. The UK suggested further use of the written procedure todeliverthe item,once therelevant internalproceduresof both sides for that purpose are completed. 4.Use of Forms and Documents-Modifications of Portable DocumentsandMinimum Changes toStructured Electronic Documents The UK recapped the previous Specialised Committee discussions onthe requiredminimal changes to PortableDocumentsand Structured Electronic Documents, todistinguish whether documents are issued under the Withdrawal Agreement(WA)orTrade and Cooperation Agreement(TCA).Distinction between the two Agreementsis importantbecause the TCA and WAcanconfer different entitlements for citizensand to enable accurate reporting. PreviousSpecialised Committee discussionsagreedthat any changes should beminimal and reduce administrative burdens.These discussionsalso notedthesechangeswould contribute toprotect citizens’rights. Aspreviouslyagreed,anychangeswillneed to go through thegovernance processesoftheAdministrativeCommissionfor the Coordination of Social Security Systems (AC)anditsrelevantAdHocgroupsbefore being subject to a decision of the Specialised Committee,following any relevant internal procedures of both sides. The UKwelcomes therecent steps taken by both sides towards an amended governance process. The EU reiterated the UK’s comments and further emphasised that this was a matterof concrete importance which would benefit citizens. Theynotedthat any changesshould be minimal andreiteratedtheimportance of following theestablishedprocedures of theAC. The EUconfirmed that there will be further discussionson theprocess for amending Portable Documents and Structured Electronic Documentsatthe Decembermeeting of theAC.Following this,the PortableDocumentsandStructured Electronic Documentsamendmentsproposed by the UK and EU toimplement theTCAProtocolwouldbe subject tothe relevant procedures. 5.Notifications Pursuant to Article SSC.59 The UK recalled previous discussions about thesimplification of the procedure forthe notification ofnational legislation,pursuant to Article SSC.59. The UK alsostatedthat they would support any suggestions from the EU to reducetheadministrativeburdens of this procedure. The EU explained that the current process should be simplified,stating that work onthis item had progressed since the lastmeeting of theSpecialised Committee. Theythanked the UK for their cooperation in this matter and stated that they aim tofind away forwardforrevising theprocedurefor the notification of national legislationbythe next meeting of the Specialised Committee. The UK was pleased with this update andendorsed theambition to resolve this bythe next Specialised Committee. 6.Implementation and Application of theProtocol: Update The UK commendedthe good working relationship andconstructive collaborationbetweenthe Secretariatsand theircommitment to deliveringimproved outcomes forcitizens.The most common issuesreportedregardedPortable DocumentsS1andthrough effective communication these issuesarebeingresolved at the workinglevel. The EU echoed the UK’s comments on the good natureofthe Secretariats’ workingrelationship and theimplementation