Two French MEPs from the European People's Party have asked the European Commission to clarify key provisions of the recently agreed revision of EU rules on the coordination of social security systems, warning that the text raises serious practical concerns for the bloc's 1.8 million cross-border workers.
In a priority written question submitted on 18 May 2026, Nadine Morano and Isabelle Le Callennec zero in on the new Article 65(3a) of Regulation (EC) No 883/2006, which was agreed by co-legislators on 24 April 2026. They ask whether their interpretation is correct: that once a worker who lived and worked in their country of residence before becoming a cross-border worker exhausts unemployment benefits in the competent Member State, they can claim remaining benefits in their country of residence.
The MEPs also raise two further practical issues. They ask whether workers can undergo professional retraining in their country of residence when language barriers limit access to such training in the competent Member State. And they question whether cross-border workers must register with employment services in the competent Member State even when those services are far from their place of residence.
The question targets the interests of cross-border workers, national employment agencies, and EU labour mobility policy. If the Commission's answers confirm a broad right to transfer benefits, it could ease financial pressure on workers but increase administrative burdens on residence countries. If it restricts that right, it may protect national budgets but leave workers stranded without support.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answers will signal how strictly or flexibly it intends to apply the new rules, and may influence national implementation. The file has no prior coverage in the last 180 days.