Lithuania will hold the Presidency in the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2013. In line with the previous Presidencies, and in accordance with the Rules, the Lithuanian Presidency will take the following actions in the field of social security coordination.

In the Administrative Commission

In respect of the issues arising at the Administrative Commission meetings, during the Lithuanian Presidency much attention will be devoted to the rules on unemployment and long-term care benefits. The October Working Party meeting will focus on more in-depth discussions on the revision of Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 (unemployment benefits chapter and long-term care benefits). The Lithuanian Presidency considers discussing the impact of possible changes to the Regulations on the basis of the Impact Assessment carried out by the Commission.

Priority will be given to the monitoring of the progress of the Ad Hoc Group on the habitual residence test. The Ad Hoc Group is continuing with its current mandate and will prepare an additional report before the December AC meeting.

The coming Presidency is looking forward to the discussion on challenges related to taxation, recognition of mobility experience, social security coverage and protection of highly mobile workers. Such challenges are to be presented in the Commission staff working paper on highly mobile workers after the summer of 2013.

The Presidency will consider how to advance the discussions on the issues raised in a number of reports to be presented in the next six months, including the final report on child raising, the final report on the collection of statistical data concerning the application of the Regulation and a report on the exchange of medical information.

The Lithuanian Presidency is also planning to continue the work on other topics, i.e.:

• Healthcare in third countries on the basis of bilateral agreements for family members of frontier workers;

• Applicable legislation in the case of parental Leave;

• Communications on maximum amounts pursuant to Article 70 of Regulation 987/2009 (calculation methods for unemployment benefits);

• The External dimension of social security coordination;

• Annual discussion on Fraud and Error.

Turning now to the issues related to EESSI, the main effort will focus on what was recognised during the Irish Presidency, i.e. that the transitional period deadline of 1 May 2014 is not feasible, and on recommendations to propose a new implementation date. Recognising the importance of the EESSI governance framework, the Lithuanian Presidency will seek approval of the Executive Board (EB) mandates, approval of terms of reference for the EB, the EB nominations and the decision to transition to the newly formed EB in order to ensure that the EESSI project moves ahead. The decision on the extension of the deadline should be taken at the Administrative Commission meeting after discussing it at the Technical Commission meeting during the Lithuanian Presidency.

In the Council

The Lithuanian Presidency will aim to reach a general approach in the Council towards the Proposal for the Directive on enforcement of rights of EU migrant workers, which aims at eliminating discrimination on the grounds of nationality. Other discussions in the field are related to the Proposal for the Directive concerning the portability of supplementary pension rights. The Lithuanian Presidency will seek to achieve agreement with the European Parliament on this Proposal.