Social security: extension to employed persons of third countries resident in the Union

On the basis of a Presidency compromise, the Council agreed on a general approach on the text of the Regulation extending the provisions of Regulation 1408/71/EEC to nationals of third countries who are legally resident in the Community and are not already covered by those provisions solely on the ground of their nationality. Once the Parliament has delivered its Opinion, the Council can formally adopt the text at a forthcoming meeting. The text of the compromise essentially responds to the desire of two delegations to maintain their current practice whereby the status of nationals of third countries is not fully equivalent to that of Community citizens. The compromise accordingly allows those delegations certain limited derogations concerning the inclusion of family benefits in the material scope of the Regulation.�