International relations

Table of contents

The activities of the Social Insurance Agency (SIA) in the international field are focused on cooperation with EU Member States, the European Commission, the Administrative Commission for the Coordination of Social Security Systems and the international organizations ESIP (European Social Security Platform) and EUMASS (an international organization of medical examiners), of which SIA is a member.

Between 1996 and 2017, SIA was a member of the International Social Security Association (ISSA). On the basis of the resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic no. 237 of June 15, 2016 on the Comprehensive Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Slovakia's Membership in International Organizations and Associated Financial Aspects (2014-2015), membership in ISSA was terminated for objective, personnel, capacity and financial reasons, but the SIA continues to participate in its activities on informal basis.

At the international level, SIA representatives participate, if necessary, in the negotiations of the Administrative Commission for the Coordination of Social Security Systems, the Working Group for Social Issues, the Working Group for Posting, the European Platform for Combating Fraud and Error in Social Security and other working groups. SIA participates in the preparation of international contracts on social security and international agreements, within the framework of bilateral cooperation, it mainly focuses on cooperation with neighbouring countries, especially the V4 countries.

SIA is currently a member of two international organizations, namely ESIP (European Social Insurance Platform) and EUMASS (European Union of Medicine in Assurance and Social Security).

European Union

The Slovak Republic has been a Member State of the European Union (EU) since May 1, 2004. One of the basic principles of the EU is the right of citizens to free movement. In the field of social security, this means the obligation of Member States to treat migrant EU citizens as their own citizens and not limit their ability to work within the EU (European Union – europa.eu).

The most important legal regulations governing the area of coordination of social security systems are coordination regulations – Regulation (EC) of the European Parliament and the Council No. 883/2004 of April 29, 2004 on the coordination of social security systems and the regulation of the European Parliament and the Council establishing the procedure for the implementation of regulation (EC) no. 883/2004 on coordination of social security systems.

ESIP

ESIP (European Social Insurance Platform – esip.eu) is an organization bringing together social security institutions in the European Union, which was founded in 1996. SIA has been a member of ESIP since January 1, 2007.

ESIP is based in Brussels, ESIP members are institutions from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and Slovenia.

ESIP brings together national experts from member institutions in special committees for the purpose of improving international cooperation in various sectors of social security. Committees of experts deal with the key areas of social insurance, pensions, employment, health and family policy, with the aim of mediating international cooperation at the European level.

The goals of the ESIP for the next period are set out in the Memorandum for the years 2019 – 2024, in which the priorities are set in the framework of pension insurance: ensuring a balance between the adequacy and financial sustainability of pension systems, supporting EU cooperation with pension institutions, facilitating the provision of cross-border information on pensions, supporting provision of old-age pensions to persons in new and flexible forms of work.

ESIP regularly submits its opinions on draft regulations, directives and decisions to the European Commission. SIA has the opportunity to assert some of its positions within these opinions, but it should be noted that the opinions are subject to the approval process of all ESIP members.

EUMASS

The European Union of Medicine in Assurance and Social Security (EUMASS) was founded in 1973 in Munich. Its current seat is Brussels. It has two areas of interest: invalidity assessment and health care expenditure control.

EUMASS is governed by the EUMASS Council, whose executive body is the President, Vice-President and Secretary General. The members of the EUMASS Council are mostly medical examiners working in the field of social security.

SIA has been a member of EUMASS since 2002. EUMASS organizes two to three meetings of the EUMASS Council per year and the EUMASS international congress, which takes place once every two years.

Main objectives of EUMASS:

  • improvement of cooperation and exchange of information between workers in the field of medical assessment within Europe,
  • representation of medical assessment of social security at the European level,
  • participation in setting professional standards,
  • enabling organizations and individuals to access information on research and education in the field of medical assessment.