Each country is free to decide who is insured under its laws, what rights arise from insurance and under what conditions. The European Union defines common rules, under which the social rights of workers are protected (in EU and EEA Member States, and in Switzerland). To that end, the following principles are upheld: the application of the laws of one country, equal treatment (non-discrimination), the consideration of previous periods of insurance and the transferability of rights (i.e. the exportability of a cash benefit), and the calculation of benefits.