ESIP contribution to the activities of the High-Level Group on the future of social protection

Social security institutions represented by ESIP play a key role in turning rights into reality for the EU’s population, including in cross-border situations, by implementing national and EU legislation. They are also innovators who strive to improve their systems and services.

ESIP High-level conference on the digitalisation of social security

On 22 September, ESIP hosted the High-level Conference on "E-Social Security 2.0" under the auspices of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU. The event successfully gathered 20 speakers, 130 participants in person and more than 50 online. Members of the ESIP community, the European Commission (EC), Member States and many others from the Brussels stakeholder pool were in the audience.

The programme of the event is available here. 

This was a major opportunity to launch the ESIP Statement on Digitalisation summarising ESIP Members’ reflection on digital social security leading towards the conference.

ESIP position paper on the directive on platform work

ESIP publishes today its position on the European Commission proposal for a Directive on Improving the working conditions of platform workers. The statutory social protection institutions represented within ESIP welcome the proposal as support to tackle the challenge linked to the emergence of platform work. 

Outcomes of ESIP Workshop - Brussels - 28 June 2022

The European Social Insurance Platform (ESIP) organised on 28 June a workshop on “New risks, new resources and prospects for social protection”, in order to foster a broad discussion among national social security experts and EU decision-makers on this topic. The workshop was inspired by the activities of the High-Level Expert Group on the future of social protection and the welfare state in the EU, chaired by Ms. Anna Diamantopoulou, who attended the event and presented the ongoing work of her group to the audience.

ESIP workshop on the future of social protection - 28 June in Brussels

Is there a risk of erosion of social protection systems due to the ageing of the population in Europe? How can we find new resources to ensure the sustainability of our systems? What new risks should be covered by social protection? 

A new chapter for ESIP

The European Social Insurance Platform (ESIP), representing statutory social security institutions from 17 Member States and Switzerland, is delighted to announce that Mr Yannis Natsis has been appointed as Director of ESIP starting from 8 February 2022. He will take over this position from Dr Christine Dawson who is retiring after 20 years of successful work and advocacy on behalf of ESIP in Brussels. 

Updated ESIP study on the social security coverage of platform workers

The European Social Insurance Platform publishes today an updated study on the social security coverage of platform workers, conducted within ESIP, representing social security institutions from 17 Member States and Switzerland. In this study, an emphasis is put on the coverage of the self-employed as many platform workers fall under this category – and typically solo-self-employed (i.e. self-employed that do not have any staff of their own). A further focus was chosen on coverage in terms of sickness and unemployment benefits.

“As EU decision-makers will discuss legislation on platform work, ESIP members are providing their expertise by analysing in detail how platform workers are insured in terms of sickness and unemployment benefits across the EU.” said Ilka Wölfle, ESIP President. 

25th anniversary of ESIP

In 2021, ESIP is celebrating 25 years of its existence, 25 years that have been dedicated to promoting the role of social protection systems in the EU. 

A set of EU digital principles: social security & health insurers’ views

As a follow-up to the Digital Compass Communication of 9 March, the Commission launched a public consultation on the formulation of a set of EU digital principles. These principles would be integrated in a joint declaration of the main EU institutions. ESIP and its Members are committed to and involved in the digitalisation of social security and healthcare systems, with a view to increasing their sustainability and accessibility within and across borders.

ESIP responds to the Public Consultation on the Green Paper on Ageing

Social protection schemes in the EU are under strain as ageing increases demand for medical and long-term care (LTC) and old-age spending. In this context, ESIP provides its recommendations touching upon all branches of social security on how to tackle demographic change while fostering active and healthy ageing.