Europaudvalget 2016-17
KOM (2016) 0815 Bilag 13
Offentligt
Ms Marianne Thyssen
Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs
Skills and Labour Mobility
European Commission
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200
1049 Brussels
BELGIUM
July 27, 2017
Indexation of child benefits for children living in other EU Member States
Dear Commissioner Thyssen,
We are writing to you
about the Commission’s proposal to amend the Regulations on the
coordination of social security systems (EC) No. 883/2004 and (EC) No. 987/2009.
Prior to the
discussion of the Commission’s proposal on
family benefits under the
Estonian Presidency, we wish to re-emphasise our belief that it is necessary to include in
the Commission’s proposed amendments
the option for Member States to index those
child benefits that are paid for children living in another Member State, to reflect the cost
of
living in the child’s
Member State of residence.
We explicitly support the principle of freedom of movement in the EU. However, we believe
that it is necessary to adjust rights arising as a consequence of this principle to reflect
changing circumstances and to ensure that this will continue to enjoy acceptance amongst
our EU citizens.
Given the significant differences between the costs of living in the Member States, we think
that imbalances may result from a situation in which child benefits are provided under the
 kom (2016) 0815 - Bilag 13: Notat samt fællesbrev fra Tyskland, Østrig, Irland og Danmark til kommissær Marianne Thyssen om indeksering af børnepenge
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legislation of a Member State with high living costs, but are paid for a child living in another
Member State, where living costs are considerably lower.
We have noted the opinion of the Commission that payment of the same taxes should result
in the same benefits. We would like to point out that in a residence-based and tax-financed
regime, redistribution takes place from contributors to those most in need. A part of this
redistribution is to contribute to the household of parents bringing up children. It is perfectly in
line with this principle of redistribution to give benefits according to need.
Indexation should be an option for Member States, and with no reciprocity required.
Since this would be an optional approach for Member States, we do not share your concerns
that indexation could result in an increased administrative burden. Member States would
choose to opt in and therefore choose whether any additional administrative burden would be
justifiable in their case. We would also hope that it would be possible for Member States to
learn from the procedures used by the EU Commission itself in its own internal
arrangements.
We are also convinced that the approach we are seeking would not interfere with the
freedom of parents to decide where their children live in accordance with what they think is
best for their families. After all, indexation of child benefits would also provide children with
sufficient benefits to meet their needs in the countries they live in.
We therefore ask you to add this proposal, the option to index child benefits, to the
current set of proposals brought forward by the European Commission to amend the
coordination regulations.
Sincerely,
Andrea Nahles
Bundesministerin für Arbeit und Soziales /
Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, GERMANY
Regina Doherty
Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí
/
Minister for Social Protection, IRELAND
 kom (2016) 0815 - Bilag 13: Notat samt fællesbrev fra Tyskland, Østrig, Irland og Danmark til kommissær Marianne Thyssen om indeksering af børnepenge
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Troels Lund Poulsen
Beskæftigelsesminister / Minister for Employment,
DENMARK
Alois Stöger
Bundesminister für Arbeit, Soziales und Konsumentenschutz /
Federal Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection, AUSTRIA