UPDATE 2012 o/t MISSOC SOCIAL SECURITY GUIDES MISSOC NETWORK MEETING Copenhagen, 24 -25 May 2012 UPDATE 2012 o/t MISSOC SOCIAL SECURITY GUIDES Michael Coucheir, Team Leader

MISSOC GUIDES – tender specifications One update per year – July Translation of updates done by contractor (no longer by EU Translation Centre) “volume of updates minimised” “estimated at an average of one page per country (1 x 31), unless a major reform takes place” Guides also to be available in standardised format (XML)

MISSOC GUIDES – updating guidelines Guides provide general description of national social security arrangements, aimed at citizens moving within Europe Not everything which is in the Tables should be in the Guides Please be concise and try to limit the update volume to one page overall During process of bilateral feedback, Secretariat may shorten or reword information Should not result in relevant updates not being reflected in Guides Please use an accessible, easy-to-understand language Please use amounts/percentages sparingly Other guidelines Please make sure that “technical terms” are consistent with the terminology in the Tables Please do not amend titles

MISSOC GUIDES – process and timing Actualisation files will be sent 18 June Files will be in Word (new EC template) Deadline for replies: 20 July Please mark any change: strikethrough & highlighting, or track changes Similar process as for Tables update Publication... in three languages by the end of December ‘12 In 21 languages by the end of March ‘13 Voluntary quality check of translations of updates in February

MISSOC GUIDES – translation in all languages Done by Secretariat’s subcontractor Subcontractor identified after call for quotes: LNE International Lot of attention paid to quality assurance Careful selection of translators (native speakers, experienced with subject matter) Four-eyes principle Sound briefing & reference materials Secretariat looses possibility to have a final quality check of the outputs

MISSOC GUIDES – other issues Coordination texts Internal references to be made “XML- proof” E.g. “invalidity benefits are calculated in the same way as old-age pensions (see Chapter VI, ‘What is covered?’)”  “invalidity benefits are calculated in the same way as old-age pensions” (hyperlink old-age pensions)