Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, on behalf of the European Commission, provided clarifications on 9 July 2026 regarding unemployment benefit provisions in the provisional agreement on the coordination of social security systems, addressing concerns raised by MEPs Nadine Morano and Isabelle Le Callennec (both PPE). The answer aims to reassure the 1.8 million EU cross-border workers affected by the new rules, which were agreed by co-legislators on 22 April 2026.
Mînzatu confirmed that under new Article 65(3a), a cross-border worker who previously worked or was insured in their country of residence can claim unemployment benefits there after exhausting entitlements from the last Member State of activity. The residence state must provide benefits according to its legislation, but the entitlement period is reduced by the duration of benefits already received. This addresses concerns about practical application for workers like the 520,000 French residents among cross-border workers.
On professional retraining, the answer notes that unemployed persons receiving benefits from the last activity state must register with its employment services. However, Article 65(4) allows additional registration in the residence state, and Article 56a of Regulation 987/2009 enables Member States to agree on measures facilitating job-seeking across borders, potentially including retraining when linguistic barriers exist.
Regarding registration requirements, Mînzatu stated that if a worker does not wish to remain available to the employment services of the last activity state—for instance due to distance—they can make themselves available only to the residence state's services under Article 65(3). This flexibility addresses practical hurdles for workers living far from the competent Member State.
The answer provides concrete interpretations but lacks numerical targets or deadlines. It signals the Commission's intent to ensure smooth implementation of the revised regulations, with further guidance possible through implementing acts or bilateral agreements between Member States. The European Parliament and Council are expected to formally adopt the provisional agreement in the coming months.