‘European Social Security Number’

2.10.2019

Question for written answer E-003083-19
to the Commission
Rule 138
Dragoş Pîslaru (Renew)

In the context of workers’ and citizens’ mobility in the European job market, it is becoming more and more important for citizens’ data relating to their work, labour history, and social identification and social security contributions to be digitally accessible. This data needs to be accurate, easy to record and verify and, in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), secure. Currently, there is no single European standard and many Member States are still relying on paper-based databases, which are obsolete, hard to verify and difficult to share.

The European Social Security Number (ESSN) would solve these issues. However, the project is currently at a standstill.

1. What are the main obstacles to adopting and implementing this system?

2. How can national specificities be included and protected without blocking the implementation of the ESSN?

3. Which Member States are likely to delay the adoption process and why?