THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 46 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee [OJ C 185, 8.8.2006, p. 37.],

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure [Position of the European Parliament of 20 June 2007 (OJ C 146 E, 12.6.2008, p. 216) and position of the Council at first reading of 17 February 2014 (OJ C 77 E, 15.3.2014, p. 1). Position of the European Parliament of 16 April 2014 (not yet published in the Official Journal).],

Whereas:

(1) The free movement of persons is one of the fundamental freedoms of the Union. Article 46 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) provides that the European Parliament and the Council, acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and after consulting the European Economic and Social Committee, are to issue Directives setting out the measures required to bring about freedom of movement for workers as laid down in Article 45 TFEU. Article 45 TFEU provides that the freedom of movement for workers entails, inter alia, the right to accept offers of employment and to move freely within the territory of Member States for this purpose. This Directive aims to promote worker mobility by reducing the obstacles to that mobility created by certain rules concerning supplementary pension schemes linked to an employment relationship.