Social security: employed persons, self-employed persons and their families (amend. Regul. 1408/71/EEC, 574/72/EEC)

The Commitee adopted unanimously a report by Mrs. Ria OOMEN-RUIJTEN (EPP, Nl) on the application of social security schemes to employed and self-employed persons and to their families. The purpose of the Commission proposal is to update two regulations. The changes are mainly technical in nature, including those concerning the operation of Telematics in Social Security (TESS) programme. The most important substantial change concerns the extension of sickness and maternity benefits for students and those on vocational training courses abroad. The Committee supported this reform but it criticized the exception proposed for the Netherlands on the reimbursement of the social security costs of foreign students and trainees. According to the Committee, the immediate healthcare benefits should be extended to third-country students, too. �