EU agrees on social security coordination after ten years

On Wednesday, EU ambassadors in Brussels approved the agreement reached with the European Parliament last week.

This brings to an end a decade-long dispute over how social security systems should work better across borders in the EU. Among other things, the agreement means that a person who becomes unemployed and looks for a job in another EU country will be able to take their unemployment benefits with them for up to six months, instead of three.

"A historic day for more than 14 million Europeans who live, work or retire in an EU country other than their own," said German Social Democrat MEP Gabriele Bischoff in a statement.

The deal is expected to be finally approved by the European Parliament in July.