A big step towards a more social Europe

Negotiations on the European Labour Authority have just been concluded with stronger protections for cross-border workers. The European Labour Agency will strengthen the functioning of the Internal Market and will help better detect mailbox companies, bogus self-employment and other fraudulent business models across all EU Member States and mediate between national authorities in labour disputes. It will also cooperate with trade unions and social partners in EU Member States. The Greens/EFA group have long argued for a more social Europe that protects workers' rights.

Jean Lambert, Social Policy spokesperson for the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, comments:

"The establishment of a European Labour Authority is necessary to put an end to abuses suffered by posted workers and by people working and living in another Member State. The European Labour Authority helps to close the labour mobility gap and will protect cross-border workers from exploitation by criminal networks. Letter-box companies, bogus self-employment and other fraudulent business models have less chances of succeeding amid the patchwork between individual EU Member States competencies.

"The European Labour Authority will support free movement and the rights of all workers, it will be able to coordinate inspections throughout Europe and ensure compliance with the rules. This is a big step towards a more social Europe."