Social security for migrants in the European Union is governed by Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems (hereinafter - coordination regulations). The coordination regulations cover all the main areas of social security (pensions, sickness, maternity, unemployment benefits, child benefits, etc.).
The coordination regulations provide for the exchange of the necessary data by electronic means between the implementing bodies. An Electronic System for the Exchange of Social Security Information (hereinafter referred to as the EESSI system) has been set up for this purpose. The EESSI system is intended for specialists of the competent institutions of the European Union countries. Connection to the EESSI system improves cross-border communication between competent institutions of European Union, European Economic Area Member States as well as Switzerland and the United Kingdom by introducing an electronic communication platform for secure and efficient exchange of information.
The EESSI system consists of European and national parts. The EESSI system is open to all countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. National social security institutions develop their national information systems and connect to the EESSI system through access points.
Health insurance funds also uses the EESSI system since May 2020. In the European Union Social Security Data Exchange Information System (EDMIS) created documents are transmitted via EESSI to institutions implementing health insurance in other countries. In most cases, health insurance funds exchange information in order to find out whether a person is covered by social (compulsory) health insurance and is entitled to free necessary medical care and whether he or she is entitled to free health care in the state of residence.
The institutions of various countries that have joined the EESSI system can be found on the European Commission's website.