The Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (1) (the ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’), was concluded by the Union by means of Council Decision (EU) 2021/689 (2) and entered into force on 1 May 2021, having been provisionally applied since 1 January 2021.
(2)
Pursuant to Article 778(1) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Protocols and Annexes to that agreement form an integral part thereof. In accordance with Article 783(3) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, as from the date from which that agreement was provisionally applied, references to the date of its entry into force are to be understood as references to the date from which it was provisionally applied.
(3)
Article 8(4)(c) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement empowers the Specialised Committee on Social Security Coordination (the ‘Specialised Committee’) to adopt decisions, including amendments, and recommendations in respect of all matters where that agreement so provides. In accordance with Article 10 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the decisions adopted by a committee are binding on the Parties.
(4)
Pursuant to Article SSCI.71(4) of the Protocol on Social Security Coordination to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (the ‘Protocol on Social Security Coordination’), for the purposes of implementing that protocol, the United Kingdom may take part in the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information and bear the related costs.
(5)
Pursuant to Article SSCI.4(2) of the Protocol on Social Security Coordination, the transmission of data between the institutions or the liaison bodies of the Member States and the United Kingdom may, subject to the approval of the Specialised Committee, be carried out via the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information. To the extent forms and documents are exchanged via the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information, they are to respect the rules applicable to the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information.
(6)
The use of the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information for the purposes of implementing the Protocol on Social Security Coordination would be beneficial for the Member States and the United Kingdom, social security institutions and persons moving between the European Union and the United Kingdom, as it would ensure a more rapid, accurate and secure exchange of social security information under the Protocol on Social Security Coordination. The Specialised Committee should therefore adopt a decision to approve the transmission of data via the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information.
(7)
It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Specialised Committee, as the envisaged decision will be binding on the Union,
