“It seems absurd to have a Banking Authority to police banking standards, but no common Labour Authority for ensuring fairness in our single market. We will create one.” 

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivered this statement during his State of the Union address in 2017. Since then, it seems that a lot of progress has been made regarding the creation of a European Labour Authority (ELA). 

In fact, last month, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the Commission’s proposal to establish an ELA. 

The aim of the ELA is to support fair mobility within the EU, due to the “fast increase of the number of Europeans working in a Member State other than that of their origin, the large number of daily commuters, and the important need of information on job opportunities and rights at home and abroad (insured by a good cooperation between national authorities)”. 

The ELA is part of the efforts being made by the EU institutions and the Member States in order to strengthen the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights. 

For the Commission’s news statement on the ELA, please click here.