##  [Who we are](/en/about/who-we-are) 

##  Our mission 

We contribute to ensuring fair and effective labour mobility across the EU and to assist Member States (plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and the European Commission in the coordination of social security systems in the EU.

 

 

 

 

##  Our vision 

We are trusted partner that proactively contributes addressing present labour mobility issues.

We facilitate concrete and cooperative solutions, benefiting workers and employers, and add value for stakeholders at Member State and EU levels.

We are ready for future challenges in addressing modern labour mobility across the EU.

 

 

 

 

##  Our focus 

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…") and services is one of the key pillars of the European Union and seen as one of the main achievements of EU integration. Millions of EU citizens live or work in another Member State. It provides citizens and companies with the opportunity to seek work and provide services across the EU.

The agreed rules need to be properly enforced to ensure **fair mobility of individuals and companies**.

- We support the effective enforcement of labour mobility rules through structured **cooperation** and exchange of information between Member States.
- We coordinate common activities, such as **joint labour inspections** and training of national staff on cross-border mobility rules.
- We **mediate** cross-border disputes and facilitate solutions.
- We support Member States in **tackling undeclared work.**
- We provide information and employment support services to **workers** and **employers**, through the coordination of European employment services (EURES).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 > “In a Union of equals, there can be no second class workers. Workers should earn the same pay for the same work in the same place. This is why the Commission proposed new rules on posting of workers. We should make sure that all EU rules on labour mobility are enforced in a fair, simple and effective way by a new European inspection and enforcement body.”

 President Jean-Claude Juncker announcing the creation of a European Labour Authority, State of the European Union speech - September 2017  

ELA was established on **20 June 2019** ([Regulation (EU) 2019/1149 establishing a European Labour Authority](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32019R1149)) as a European Union body to help **strengthen fairness and trust in the internal market**.

Since September 2021 ELA has its permanent seat in Bratislava, Slovakia.

As of 1 June 2025, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein have officially joined the European Labour Authority.

 

 

 

 

 



 

## Discover more

[What we do](/en/about/what-we-do)





[Governance](/en/about/governance)





[Corporate documents](/en/about/corporate-documents)