I Unionens sydlige medlemsstater samt i Irland har man gjort betydelige fremskridt hen imod etablering af systemer, der, hvad angår dækning og støtteniveau, kan sammenlignes med systemerne i de øvrige
Indeed, in the Southern countries of the Union as well as in Ireland, sub­stantial progress has been made towards the establishment of systems comparable in their coverage and the level of support provided to those in other Member States.