The Social Security Reform Co-operation Project, launched in April 2006, is a five year inter-governmental cooperation project between the EU and China in the field of social security reforms. The project aims to support the transition to a sustainable social security system in China which guarantees accessible, adequate and affordable social security benefits to all Chinese citizens.
The executing authority of the project is the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). The project is implemented through a Project Office in the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS, former Ministry of Labour and Social Security), supported by international technical assistance which is contracted by the European Commission. A Project Steering Committee (PSC) was established by the MOFCOM. Membership includes representatives of Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Civil Affair with the responsibility for policy guidance and coordination between all institutions and other stakeholders involved in the project.
Project Design
There are two Components to the project. Component I formally started on 1 April 2006 and will last for 57 months; Component 2 formally started on 16 November 2007 and will last for 36 months. Two teams of senior EU key experts and many other short-term experts with EU and Chinese experience in the field of social security reforms will concentrate on the provision of technical expertise.
Component 1 of the project (EUCSS 1) aims to support policy-oriented cooperation with relevant departments of Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and other academic institutions involved in the project at national level. Component I provides technical support and assistance in policy making for Social Security Reforms in China.
Component 2 of the project (EUCSS 2) aims to support implementation and administration oriented cooperation with Provincial, Municipal Governments and Provincial Social Security Bureaux. Pilot reform initiatives supported under Component II will be implemented on the beneficiary-side through Local Implementation Units in six selected Provinces and cities of Gansu, Sichuan, Shandong, Hunan, Jilin and Beijing. Activities generated under Component II of the project will also serve as basis for possible replication of the improvements achieved to other provinces.
The project tackles problems and difficulties that are met during the Social Security Reforms in China, aims to support and promote policy capacity building activities as well as the exchange of good-practice by using European know-how and expertise in forms of conferences, seminars, workshops, trainings and study tours.
Roundtable Seminars will be held annually for the purpose of building up a policy dialogue on social security between China and the EU at national level.
Together we are writing a new chapter of EU-China cooperation
Excellent research results have been achieved in the areas of old age pensions, health, unemployment and work injury insurances as well as capacity building. Trainings have been given to hundreds of policymakers and staff members who are involved in the project over the past two years. Looking into the future, the project aims to help transferring available international know-how and expertise to improve quality and performance of the founded projects at national and provincial levels. We believe that more people will benefit from further implementation of the project.
