Summary

The four freedoms of the European Union include the freedom of movement of workers as an important principle. This freedom is closely linked with the maintenance and use of social insurance rights. Every person who moves within the borders of the European Union is interested in the fact which country will pay his or her medical treatment expenses, under the law of which country health services will be provided and how and from which country he or she is entitled to claim pension after the termination of his or her professional career. As a rule, there are no problems when a person works in one Member State of the European Union during his or her entire working life. In such a case, the person is insured in one country and normally the country is required to provide him or her with the respective social insurance benefits. However, if a person has worked in more than one country, it is necessary to determine which country and to what extent is to pay the social insurance benefits.
The author examines the EU rules governing social insurance rights and analyses whether, after accession to the European Union, Estonia is to make significant changes in the existing social insurance system, particularly with regard to compulsory funded pension.