1. UPDATE 2012 o/t MISSOC SOCIAL SECURITY GUIDES
MISSOC NETWORK MEETING Copenhagen, May 2012
UPDATE 2012 o/t MISSOC SOCIAL SECURITY GUIDES
Michael Coucheir, Team Leader

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)