There are 14 million mobile workers in the EU affected by the social security coordination rules.

Omissions

• The official 14 million figure refers to EU citizens living and/or working in another member state (mobile citizens), a broader category than strictly 'mobile workers' (employed persons); the category also includes students, retirees and jobseekers, though mobile workers are the largest component.
• The underlying data reflects the period up to 1 January 2025 (Eurostat), which predates the session date and was known to the MEP.
• The same source base also cites a higher, broader figure: the European Parliament has referred to '16 million Europeans' living or working in another EU country in some communications, so the exact count depends on the statistical definition used.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission document on EUR-Lex (Ares(2025)10762705)About 14 million European citizens are living and/or working in a country where they do not hold citizenship. Mobile workers significantly contribute to the...
• PrimaryEurostat — Demography of Europe (2026 edition)Citizenships in the EU. 14 million EU citizens living in another EU country. On 1 January 2025, while most people in the EU lived in their country of...
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — MEMO/13/1041 (Free movement of people)With over 14 million EU citizens resident in another Member State on a stable basis, free movement – or the ability to live, work and study anywhere in the...
• SecondaryETUC (European Trade Union Confederation)This reform is essential to support fair labour mobility and protect the rights of Europe's 14 million cross-border workers.