##  [Free movement of workers](/en/topics/free-movement-workers) 

The **[free movement of workers](/en/glossary/free-movement-workers "Is a fundamental right of workers in the EU allowing to look for a job in another EU country, to work there without needing a work permit, reside there for that purpose, stay there even after employment has finished and enjoy equal treatment with nationals in access to employment, working…")** is a fundamental principle of the European Union that allows **nationals of any EU member state to work in another member state under the same conditions as the nationals of that member state**. This principle ensures that EU citizens have the right to accept job offers, and move freely within the country for working and living.

 

 

 

 

##  Ongoing activities 

ELA is continuously working on various initiatives to support the [free movement of workers](/en/glossary/free-movement-workers "Is a fundamental right of workers in the EU allowing to look for a job in another EU country, to work there without needing a work permit, reside there for that purpose, stay there even after employment has finished and enjoy equal treatment with nationals in access to employment, working…"). Some of the ongoing activities include:

- [**Awareness campaigns**](/en/campaigns "Campaigns"): ELA continues to run awareness campaigns like [\#Rights4AllSeasons](/en/campaigns/rights-all-seasons "Rights for all seasons") or [Fair HORECA in EU](https://www.ela.europa.eu/assets/horeca-campaign/index.html) to educate workers and employers about their rights and obligations.
- [**Training and workshops**](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/events?f%5B0%5D=lp_event__type%3A171&f%5B1%5D=lp_event__type%3A172&f%5B2%5D=topics%3A161&sort%5Bname%5D=oe_sc_event_dates_end_value&sort%5Bdirection%5D=ASC): regular training sessions and workshops are held for labour inspectorates and other relevant authorities to enhance their ability to enforce EU labour laws. These sessions cover challenges related to seasonal work, disseminating information and assistance services, and improving cooperation between labour inspectorates and occupational health and safety authorities, supporting the enforcement of EU labour mobility legislation.
- [**Cross-border inspections**](/en/activities/concerted-and-joint-inspections "Concerted and joint inspections"): ELA organises and supports cross-border inspections to ensure [compliance](/en/glossary/compliance "The act of obeying an order, rule, regulation or request. Compliance with a law means doing what is required to operate in the declared economy.") with labour regulations, including related to the [free movement of workers](/en/glossary/free-movement-workers "Is a fundamental right of workers in the EU allowing to look for a job in another EU country, to work there without needing a work permit, reside there for that purpose, stay there even after employment has finished and enjoy equal treatment with nationals in access to employment, working…").
- [**Cross-border cooperation**](/en/activities/cooperation-between-member-states "Cooperation between Member States"): collaborating with national authorities to resolve cross-border employment issues efficiently.
- [**EURES** ](/en/activities/eures "EURES")services: the EURES network is actively involved in providing services to job seekers and employers, facilitating [cross-border recruitment](/en/glossary/cross-border-recruitment "process aimed at hiring candidates from abroad, consisting of promotion for a job vacancy, a selection procedure and job offer, organised and led by an employer or facilitated by recruitment specialists from public employment services or private entities") and job matching.
- [**Analysis**](/en/analysis-and-risk-assessment "Analysis and risk assessment"): ELA conducts analysis to identify emerging trends and challenges in the field of [free movement of workers](/en/glossary/free-movement-workers "Is a fundamental right of workers in the EU allowing to look for a job in another EU country, to work there without needing a work permit, reside there for that purpose, stay there even after employment has finished and enjoy equal treatment with nationals in access to employment, working…").

 

 

 

 

##  EU Legal Framework 

The legal basis for the [free movement of workers](/en/glossary/free-movement-workers "Is a fundamental right of workers in the EU allowing to look for a job in another EU country, to work there without needing a work permit, reside there for that purpose, stay there even after employment has finished and enjoy equal treatment with nationals in access to employment, working…") is enshrined in [Article 45 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:12008E045:en:HTML). This principle is further supported by various EU regulations and directives, including [Regulation (EU) No 492/2011 ](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/492/oj/eng)and [Directive 2014/54/EU](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/54/oj/eng).

These legal instruments provide a framework for equal treatment, ensuring that workers can exercise their rights effectively across the EU.

 

 

 

 

##  ELA's role and tasks 

ELA plays a crucial role in facilitating the [free movement of workers](/en/glossary/free-movement-workers "Is a fundamental right of workers in the EU allowing to look for a job in another EU country, to work there without needing a work permit, reside there for that purpose, stay there even after employment has finished and enjoy equal treatment with nationals in access to employment, working…") within the EU. ELA's activities in this area include:

- **Information and services**: ELA organizes campaigns, workshops, and information sessions to raise awareness about workers' rights and obligations.
- **Support for enforcemen**t: ELA provides training for labour inspectorates, conducts cross-border inspections, and holds seminars on issues such as undeclared work. These efforts help ensure that national authorities can effectively enforce EU labour laws.
- **EURES network**: ELA manages the EURES European Coordination Office, which provides services through the EURES Portal. This network supports recruitment across borders and helps workers find job opportunities in other EU member states.
- **Collaboration and coordination**: ELA works closely with national authorities to improve administrative cooperation and support the efficient implementation of EU labour laws. This includes facilitating the exchange of information and best practices among member states.

 

 

 

 

  

##  Free movement bodies (FMBs) 

**Bodies promoting equal treatment and supporting European Union workers and their family members.**   
Free movement bodies (FMBs) are national authorities that promote equal treatment of EU workers and their family members. They support the right to free movement by helping ensure it can be exercised without discrimination based on nationality or unjustified barriers. Free movement bodies operate in an EEA context, including in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

### What FMBs do 

Across the EU, free movement bodies support the application of EU rules on the [free movement of workers](/en/glossary/free-movement-workers "Is a fundamental right of workers in the EU allowing to look for a job in another EU country, to work there without needing a work permit, reside there for that purpose, stay there even after employment has finished and enjoy equal treatment with nationals in access to employment, working…"). They:

- provide independent information, advice and assistance to EU workers and their family members;
- act as contact points with similar bodies in other EU countries;
- identify and report barriers to free movement;
- publish reports and make recommendations for improvement;
- share practical information on how EU free movement rules are applied at national level.

### FMBs in the Member States 

In each EU country, different authorities have been designated as FMBs. These may include:

- ministries of labour;
- equality bodies;
- ombudsperson institutions;
- public employment services;
- migration agencies;
- other specialised national authorities.

**Click a country to find the national FMB and its contact details:**


  table.fmb-bg, table.fmb-bg tbody, table.fmb-bg tr, table.fmb-bg td {
    background-color: #E7F1F3 !important;
  }

| [Austria](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/austria) | [Belgium](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/belgium#fmbs) |
|---|---|
| [Bulgaria](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/bulgaria#fmbs) | [Croatia](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/croatia#fmbs) |
| [Cyprus](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/cyprus#fmbs) | [Czechia](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/czechia#fmbs) |
| [Denmark](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/denmark#fmbs) | [Estonia](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/estonia#fmbs) |
| [Finland](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/finland#fmbs) | [France](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/france#fmbs) |
| [Germany](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/germany#fmbs) | [Greece](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/greece#fmbs) |
| [Hungary](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/hungary#fmbs) | [Iceland](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/topics/free-movement-workers#fmbs) |
| [Ireland](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/ireland#fmbs) | [Italy](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/italy#fmbs) |
| [Latvia](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/latvia#fmbs) | [Liechtenstein](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/topics/free-movement-workers#fmbs) |
| [Lithuania](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/lithuania#fmbs) | [Luxembourg](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/luxembourg#fmbs) |
| [Malta](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/malta#fmbs) | [Netherlands](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/netherlands#fmbs) |
| [Norway](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/topics/free-movement-workers#fmbs) | [Poland](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/poland#fmbs) |
| [Portugal](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/portugal#fmbs) | [Romania](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/romania#fmbs) |
| [Slovenia](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/slovenia#fmbs) | [Spain](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/spain#fmbs) |
| [Sweden](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/country/sweden#fmbs) |  |

### Important to know 

The priorities and activities of free movement bodies may vary between EU countries. They work in cooperation with other EU-level information and assistance services and networks.

### How FMBs connect to ELA's work 

ELA and the bodies share the common objective of facilitating fair labour mobility across the EU. In practice, ELA supports cooperation between free movement bodies by improving access to information and services, strengthening capacity, and encouraging cooperation and the exchange of good practices in the field of labour mobility.

Free movement bodies are established under EU law ([Directive 2014/54/EU](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/54/oj/eng)). Under [Regulation (EU) 2019/1149](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1149/oj/eng), ELA facilitates their cooperation and information exchange at EU level.

### Useful links

- [Working abroad - Your Europe](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/work-abroad/index_en.htm)
- [Free movement - EU nationals - Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion](https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/moving-working-europe/working-another-eu-country/free-movement-eu-nationals_en)
- [EURES – European Employment Services ](https://eures.europa.eu/)

 

 

 

 

##  Resources 

### Communication materials

[See all](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/documents?f%5B0%5D=ela_publication_type%3A180&f%5B1%5D=ela_publication_type%3A181&f%5B2%5D=topics%3A162)

 

 

 

 





 #FairHORECAinEU

 [Go to the campaign webpage](https://www.ela.europa.eu/assets/horeca-campaign/index.html)





 





 ##Rights4AllSeasons

 [Go to the campaign webpage](/en/campaigns/rights-all-seasons)





 

##  Related news 

###  Free movement of workers 

 

  ![European Labour Authority visual with the message “Test it before we launch it!” and three raised hands representing participation in user testing.](/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_list_item_featured_2x/public/2026-09/Pool%20of%20testers%20webnews.jpg?itok=p_5oBJjg)

 

 [Test it before we launch it!](/en/news/test-it-we-launch-it) 

Help shape ELA's websites, digital products, communication materials by sharing your feedback and experience.



 **Published date:** 22 September 2026 

 News 

 

 

 ![Week of Action temporary employment agencies](/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_list_item_featured_2x/public/2026-08/woa%20temporary%20agents%20cover.png?itok=M7rArQ8e)

 

 [ELA coordinates first week of action dedicated to temporary employment agencies and other labour intermediaries](/en/news/ela-coordinates-first-week-action-dedicated-temporary-employment-agencies-and-other-labour) 

In June 2026, the European Labour Authority (ELA) coordinated its first week of action dedicated to temporary employment agencies and other labour intermediaries. In this targeted action, enforcement authorities from 14 EU Member States worked together to check 70 companies and almost 2800 workers.



 **Published date:** 14 August 2026 

 News 

 

 

 ![EURES shortages report 2025 webnews](/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_list_item_featured_2x/public/2026-06/EURES-shortages.jpg?itok=W_6a90IE)

 

 [ELA launches 2025 EURES report highlighting structural labour shortages across Europe](/en/news/ela-launches-2025-eures-report-highlighting-structural-labour-shortages-across-europe) 

A new annual report maps where workers are missing and where they are available, sector by sector and country by country.



 **Published date:** 11 June 2026 

 News 

 

 

 

 

 

 

##  Upcoming events 

###  Free movement of workers 

 

  Nov

24





Nov

25





2026







 [ELA Tech lab - 3rd edition ](/en/news-event/events/ela-tech-lab-3rd-edition)Time





Tuesday 24 November 2026, 08.00 (CET) - Wednesday 25 November 2026, 14.00 (CET)

 

 



Location





 Bratislava, Slovakia 





 Event 

  











 Nov

16





Nov

19





2026







 [Modular training for inspectors](/en/news-event/events/modular-training-inspectors-0)Time





Monday 16 November 2026, 13.00 (CET) - Thursday 19 November 2026, 17.00 (CET)

 

 



Location





 Bratislava, Slovakia 





 Training 

  











 Oct

13





Oct

14





2026







 [Study visit to Belgium: Risk-based targeting, data-driven enforcement, digital tools and collaboration with social partners in tackling undeclared work](/en/news-event/events/study-visit-belgium-risk-based-targeting-data-driven-enforcement-digital-tools)Time





Tuesday 13 October 2026, 08.30 (CEST) - Wednesday 14 October 2026, 15.30 (CEST)

 

 



Location





 Brussels, Belgium 





 Event