Establishing the European Advisory Group for the European Labour Authority

 

SUMMARY OF:

Decision (EU) 2018/402 — setting up the European Advisory Group for the European Labour Authority

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS DECISION?

It establishes the European Advisory Group which is to advise and assist the European Commission in the setting up and functioning of the European Labour Authority (ELA).

KEY POINTS

A proposal to establish the ELA was put forward by the Commission on 13 March 2018. Its purpose is to promote fairness and mutual trust in the EU’s internal market by ensuring that EU rules on labour mobility are enforced in a fair, simple and effective way. It has 3 specific objectives:

• to help individuals and employers access information about their rights and obligations in the areas of labour mobility and social security coordination (common EU rules protecting individuals’ social security rights when moving within the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), as well as access to relevant services;
• to support cooperation between national authorities in enforcing EU law across national borders, including to simplify joint and concerted inspections (such as where different countries might organise simultaneous inspections);
• to provide mediation and help resolve disputes between national authorities or in cases of disruptions to the labour market (such as a restructuring of companies) affecting several countries.

This proposal is also part of the roll-out of the European Pillar of Social Rights which aims to promote better working and living conditions in the EU.

Tasks

The main tasks of the advisory group are to:

• bring about cooperation among national authorities and interested parties and advise the Commission on the establishment and future operation of the ELA;
  • examine general questions, questions of principle and practical problems arising from the implementation of EU legislation on labour mobility and of social security coordination and their impact on the activities of the ELA;
• exchange views on and identify best practice and examples of good cooperation in the area of cross-border labour mobility and social security coordination with neighbouring European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries in order to develop the activities of the ELA;
• identify the means of cooperation and the contribution of existing bodies, including decentralised EU agencies, in establishing the ELA and ensuring its good functioning.

Composition

The European Advisory Group’s membership is composed of:

• 1 representative from each EU country;
• 6 representatives from EU-level social partners equally representing trade unions and employers’ organisations;
• 1 representative from each EU agency in the field of employment and social affairs:
  • European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions,
  • European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training,
  • European Training Foundation, and
  • European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

EFTA countries and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation can be granted an observer status by direct invitation. The Commission (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion) may invite experts with specific expertise on an agenda issue to take part on an ad hoc basis.

WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY FROM?

It has applied since 15 March 2018.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

• Questions and answers on the European Labour Authority (European Commission)
• Commission adopts proposals for a European Labour Authority and for access to social protection (European Commission)
• European Pillar of Social Rights (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Commission Decision (EU) 2018/402 of 13 March 2018 setting up the European Advisory Group for the European Labour Authority (OJ L 72, 15.3.2018, pp. 20-23)

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Labour Authority (COM(2018) 131 final, 13.3.2018)

last update 17.07.2018