OPEN ISSUES OF COORDINATION OF DISABILITY BENEFITS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Ovaj rad se temelji na analizi davanja za invalidnost u kontekstu koordinacije sustava socijalne sigurnosti Europske unije, posebno s osvrtom na pravila i uvjete ostvarivanja takvog davanja na temelju Uredbe (EZ) 883/2004. o koordinaciji sustava socijalne sigurnosti. Prvi dio rada će ukratko predstaviti cjelokupno zakonodavstvo Europske unije, a zatim nacionalno zakonodavstvo, konkretno zakonodavstvo Republike Hrvatske s naglaskom na pravne izvore od posebne važnosti za ovu vrstu davanja. U drugom dijelu rada definirat će se pojam invalidnosti, kao fizički i mentalni nedostatak koji ograničava pojedinca u obavljanju njegovih osnovnih egzistencijalnih potreba. Skrenut će se pažnja i na to koliko je pojam invalidnosti raznoliko tumačen u drugim državama članicama i koliko to predstavlja prepreku kod ostvarivanja davanja u državi različitoj od matične, naročito s obzirom na činjenicu da tada ne postoji mogućnost primjene načela asimilacije kao temeljnog načela koordinacije na kojem počiva Uredba br. 883/2004. Konkretizirat će se davanja koja se smatraju invalidskim davanjima te kako se ista ostvaruju s obzirom na tip zakonodavstva kojem je osoba podložna u trenutku kada nastupi invalidnost, pritom uzimajući u obzir mirovinski staž. Kroz relevantnu i postojeću sudsku praksu, približit će se sustav invalidskih davanja, ali će ih se i razgraničiti s obzirom na drugu vrstu davanja iz sustava socijalne sigurnosti. U posljednjem dijelu, rad će se baviti situacijom u kojoj se invalidska davanja pretvaraju u davanja za starost i problematikom odnosa invalidskih davanja s davanjima za ozljede na radu i profesionalnih bolesti.This paper is based on the analysis of disability benefits in the context of coordination of the social security systems of the European Union, with a particular focus on the rules and conditions for obtaining such benefits under Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems. The first part of the paper will provide a brief overview of the overall legislation of the European Union, followed by an examination of national legislation, specifically the legislation of the Republic of Croatia, with an emphasis on the legal sources of particular importance for this type of benefit. The second part of the paper will define the concept of disability as a physical or mental impairment that restricts an individual in performing their basic existential needs. Attention will also be drawn to the diverging interpretations of the concept of disability in different Member States and how it can be a barrier to accessing benefits in a country other than the home country, especially considering that the principle of assimilation, a fundamental principle of coordination on which Regulation No 883/2004 is based, cannot be applied in such cases. The specific benefits considered as disability benefits and the procedures for obtaining them will be outlined, considering the type of legislation to which an individual is subject at the time of disability, while considering the pension record. Referring to relevant case law, the paper will present the system of disability benefits, distinguishing them from other types of benefits within the social security system. In the final part, the paper will explore the situation where disability benefits are converted into old-age benefits and the issues concerning the relationship between disability benefits and benefits for accidents at work and occupational diseases