EU benefits for non-EU residents
Citizens of non-EU countries legally living in one of the 15 member states will be covered by the social security funds of the country of residence when traveling to other EU-member countries, the union’s labor ministers agreed yesterday. In effect, an immigrant who is living and working legally in Greece and goes to another EU country for studies or on holiday will remain covered in the case of accident or illness as if he or she were a native of the country in which they reside. The right to transfer health benefits from one EU member to another is a fundamental European right, within the context of the freedom to move and settle in the EU. However, people from non-EU countries legally residing in one member state do not share the same right to settle anywhere in the union as do EU citizens. Nevertheless, in their temporary movements in the EU they will be covered by the agencies of the country in which they reside. In the case of Greece this will be the Social Security Foundation (IKA).
