Public Consultation For Parents of the European Schools

You will find below the letter addressed to the parents of all European Schools on the subject of the European Commission's public consultation on mobility within the EU in terms of work and social security.

Dear parents of children in European Schools,

 

The European Commission is preparing two initiatives of considerable interest for mobile families: the Skills Portability Initiative and the European Social Security Pass. We warmly invite you to participate in the related public consultations and to share the questionnaires with your family, friends and other networks.

Why does this matter for you and your family? As a mobile family, you or your family members may have encountered situations where you needed to present certified copies of educational diplomas or navigate the process of having education recognised, especially in the case of regulated profession or qualifications obtained outside the EU. Concerning social security, you might have utilised the European Health Insurance Card or other attestations to confirm your insurance status.

These two initiatives aim to simplify and streamline these processes including by promoting the use of digital tools:

• The Skills Portability Initiative (SPI) encompasses three interrelated actions. Firstly, it seeks to enhance the transparency of skills and qualifications, as well as expand digital tools. Secondly, it examines measures to modernise and expand recognition processes for regulated professions. Lastly, it considers common EU rules to simplify how the skills and qualifications of third-country nationals are recognised.
• The European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS) aims at simplifying interactions with relevant authorities or service providers in the context of social security when visiting or moving to another EU country. This includes use of European Health Insurance Card, proving health insurance when moving to another EU country as a pensioner, demonstrating insurance status for posted workers and more. The initiative seeks to enable the secure and swift verification of social security rights and documents via a digital solution, thereby reducing paperwork and minimising the risk of errors and fraud.

Where to submit your response? Please, refer to the provided links for Skills Portability Initiative (end date 27 February 2026) and the European Social Security Pass (end date 16 April 2026). Questionnaires are available in all EU languages.

Your feedback on practical obstacles and opinions on potential solutions and impacts in these areas would be incredibly valuable. We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and insights!

 

With kind regards,

Monika Velikonja, Parent of a child at the European School of Brussels 1, Working in European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion DG
Koen Nomden, Parent whose children attended the European School of Brussels 3, Working in European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion DG