The German Social Insurance System is connected through several transnational networks with many social protection organisations in other EU Member States. These transnational cooperative efforts serve primarily as a forum for shared learning as well as a means for achieving the goal of active participation in the development of European social and health care policy. The major networks of this kind are the European Social Insurance Forums and the association European Social Insurance Platform.
Starting in 1990, in tune with the advancing European integration process, the European social insurance organisations began undertaking targeted initiatives to promote transnational cooperation. This cooperation has been organised in three forums, in which the boards and managing directors of the participating national social insurance systems meet regularly to discuss strategic challenges and potential solutions. The three forums correspond with the classical sectors of social insurance:
In recent years the work of these forums has contributed considerably to facilitating the discussion and transnational coordination of European issues, concerns and procedures of common interest to all. This success has brought the participating social protection institutions a more powerful voice and greater influence in the shaping of European social policy. The main shared objective is the preservation of the principle of a solidarity-oriented, non-profit social protection able to keep apace of changing social demands.
The European Social Insurance Platform (ESIP) was founded in 1996 based on a German initiative. The association maintains direct contacts with the institutions and offices of the EU and is thus actively involved in the shaping of European social policy. The group's Brussels office organises regular theme-based meetings of all sectors of the social insurance systems of the Member States and coordinates joint events and initiatives. This well-structured working method enables a systematic exchange of information and experience, as well as the formulation of expert position statements for presentation to the EU institutions.
In addition to the German Social Insurance, the ESIP also includes numerous other social protection institutions from a total of 13 EU Member States and Switzerland. more >>
European Social Insurance Platform (ESIP)
Maison Européenne de la Protection Sociale
Rue d'Arlon 50
B-1000 Brussels
Telephone: +32 (2) 282 05 60
Telefax: +32 (2) 282 05 98
E-mail:
esip@esip.org
Internet:
http://www.esip.org/index.php
