The European Commission has put forward plans for a digital platform designed to simplify the recognition of social security entitlements and professional qualifications across the bloc. The proposed European Social Security Pass would allow workers to have their documents validated in any member state without the lengthy administrative procedures that currently hamper cross-border mobility.
Presented on Tuesday, the initiative responds to a persistent problem: citizens who move for work often face delays in receiving or having their working documents accepted in their new country of residence. These delays can lead to violations of basic rights, such as access to healthcare or pension contributions, and discourage labour mobility within the single market.
A single market for skills
The Commission argues that the single market should also function as a genuine skills market, where talent can move freely without bureaucratic obstacles. President Ursula von der Leyen stressed this vision in a statement, saying: "The single market must also become a genuine skills market with more opportunities for workers and businesses."
Under the new package, workers would be able to claim social security and health insurance benefits more easily, and have their professional qualifications recognised in other EU countries without unnecessary red tape. The proposals also aim to protect mobile workers and address the challenges companies face when recruiting talent from abroad within the EU.
Roxana Mînzatu, the Commission Vice-President for Social Rights, told Euronews that the new platform would save "talented" people from "wasting their skills" when they move across EU borders. She emphasised that the current system often forces skilled professionals to wait months for recognition, which is both frustrating and economically inefficient.
The scale of the issue is significant. Commission data from 2024 shows that around 14 million Europeans live in an EU country other than their birth country, with 10 million of them of working age. A recent Eurobarometer survey found that 18% of Europeans would like to move abroad, suggesting that demand for smoother mobility is likely to grow.
The Commission estimates that the platform could deliver as much as €6 billion in benefits by 2040, by reducing administrative costs, speeding up hiring, and preventing the underutilisation of skills. The savings would come from both the public sector and businesses, as well as from increased tax revenues as workers integrate faster into local labour markets.
The proposal is part of a broader push to digitalise public services across Europe. It builds on initiatives such as the EU Digital Identity Wallet, which aims to give citizens a single digital identity for accessing public and private services. The Social Security Pass would complement that effort by focusing specifically on employment-related documents.
However, the plan is not without challenges. Member states have different social security systems, and harmonising recognition procedures will require close cooperation. Privacy and data security are also concerns, as the platform will handle sensitive personal information. The Commission says it will ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and use secure digital infrastructure.
The proposal now goes to the European Parliament and the Council for negotiation. If adopted, the platform would be developed in phases, with a pilot expected in the coming years. The Commission hopes that by 2030, most cross-border workers will be able to use the pass to have their documents recognised within days rather than months.
For now, the announcement marks a step towards a more integrated European labour market, where moving to another country for work is as straightforward as moving within one's own. As the EU faces demographic decline and skills shortages, such tools are seen as essential to unlocking the full potential of its workforce.
