1. Organisation and coordination of a network on the EU
coordination of social security schemes in EU/EEA/CH
training and reporting on
European Social Security
trESS III
trESS was established in 2005 and is financed by the
European Commission (DG Employment, Social Affairs
and Inclusion)
It is implemented by Ghent University in collaboration
with independent experts from 32 countries
2. Objectives
increase the knowledge base on the coordination
regulations
build networks between people professionally
involved in social security coordination all over Europe
report to the EC on the implementation of the EU
Regulations
undertake legal and statistical analysis with regard to
topics connected with social security coordination
provide analytical support to the European
Commission in relation to the application of social
security coordination legislation
4. Highlights trESS III
National seminars replaced by ‘specialised’
seminars
trESS also covers the EFTA countries (Norway,
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland) and, from 1
July 2013 onwards, Croatia
Some new tasks added
analytical support to the EC (requests for information,
contribution to studies)
mapping and analysis of statistics on social security
coordination
Network extended with specific areas of
expertise
5. Training & Networking
Target groups
Social security institutions and authorities
Social partners
NGOs
Judges and lawyers
Independent experts confronted with problems of implementation
Activities:
Specialised seminars
E-learning module
Contact database
Regular E-newsletters
Social media
Promotion through other initiatives, notably MISSOC
6. Specialised seminars
Ca. 10 seminars per year, determined in accordance with a
procedure of “internal calls for proposals”
Wide variety of seminars
Awareness-raising, practically-oriented or analytical
General or focused on one particular topic/target group
National, bi-or multilateral, in cooperation with other stakeholders
Attended by experts from the Commission and trESS
Reports written by seminar reporters
Agenda and PPT presentations posted on trESS website
Participant satisfaction is monitored – Please complete the brief
participant satisfaction survey distributed at the seminar
7. Seminar calendar 2013
• Cases*
United Kingdom (Nottingham) 26 June
Luxembourg-France (Luxembourg - Hollerich) 2 July
Denmark-Germany (Padborg) 13 September
Austria-Czech Republic-Slovenia (Salzburg) 26 September
Ireland (Dublin) 2 October
Croatia (Opatija) 8 November
Seminar with logistical support from trESS:
Poland (Warsaw) 14 June
8. Networking
How to join?
• By sending a request to join
to tress@ugent.be
• By submitting a request via
the website
Current members are kindly
requested to keep their details
updated
Austria 73 Hungary 58 Slovak Rep. 41
Belgium 126 Ireland 29 Slovenia 72
Bulgaria 73 Italy 71 UK 130
Cyprus 106 Lithuania 45 Switzerland 3
Czech Rep. 72 Luxembourg 37 Norway 1
Germany 51 Latvia 50 Liechtenstein 1
Denmark 51 Malta 110 Iceland 1
Estonia 55 The Netherlands 110 Other 12
Greece 54 Poland 160
Spain 73 Portugal 128
TOTAL 2211
Finland 119 Romania 111 * Status June 2013
France 155 Sweden 45
9. Networking
Subscriber status
4 issues per year
Contents
Information on the project and its activities
Interviews with top experts in the field of social security coordination
Trends, challenges and developments in the field of coordination
Case law reviews & developments at legislative level
2009 2732
2010 3210
2011 3513
2012 3575
June 2013 3781
11. Website: e-learning module
General introduction into social
security coordination
Glossary of 70 keywords,
reflecting main concepts of social
security coordination, with 190
questions & answers
Updated as necessary
13. Website: European resources
European Reports (2008 -)
Think Tank Reports (2008 -) & Analytical Reports (2011 -)
Texts of the main Regulations (in all available languages)
Regulations database
Articles of the Regulations linked
with relevant information
E.g. Articles of Regulation 883/2004
links with implementing rules
links with related ECJ case law
links with Adm.Comm. Decisions
14. NEW: social media pages
trESS on LinkedIn (431 members) and Facebook (162
members)
Regular news updates on EU social security coordination
Messages, comments and opinions
How to join?
Become a member of LinkedIn
and/or Facebook
Join the trESS pages
A direct link to the trESS social
media pages is available on the
homepage of the trESS website
15. Reporting on implementation
Yearly reports on the implementation of the
coordination regulations in 32 countries
Either a European Report (covering application of the
Regulations as a whole), or
a Thematic Report, focusing on a specific topic of
coordination
In 2013: European Report (available December)
Based on contributions of national experts
16. Legal analysis
“Think Tank Study”: Legal research with a long-term
perspective dealing with strategic questions
Conducted by a Think Tank, composed each year
from a pool of analytical experts
In 2013: “Key challenges for the social security
coordination Regulations in the perspective of 2020”
(available December)
17. Legal analysis
“Analytical study”: legal research based on fact-
finding with relation to ad hoc analytical needs
Conducted by an analytical study group, composed
each year from a pool of analytical experts
In 2013: “Assessment of the impact of the revision of
selected provisions of the Regulations”