Europees Verdrag inzake sociale zekerheid

The member States of the Council of Europe signatory hereto,

Considering that the aim of the Council of Europe is to achieve greater unity between its Members, in particular for the purpose of facilitating their social progress;

Considering that multilateral co-ordination of social security legislation is one of the means of achieving that aim;

Considering that the European Code of Social Security, opened for signature on 16 April 1964, provides, in Article 73, that the Contracting Parties to the Code shall endeavour to conclude a special instrument governing questions relating to social security for foreigners and migrants, particularly with regard to equality of treatment with their own nationals and to the maintenance of acquired rights and rights in course of acquisition;

Affirming the principle of equality of treatment for nationals of the Contracting Parties, refugees and stateless persons, under the social security legislation of each Contracting Party, and the principle that the benefits under social security legislation should be maintained despite any change of residence by the protected persons within the territories of the Contracting Parties, principles which underlie not only certain provisions of the European Social Charter but also several conventions of the International Labour Organisation,