Skip to content In her speech to the European Parliament on May 20, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen renewed her call to accelerate the completion and modernisation of the European Single Market.
Her remarks build on the “One Europe, One Market” roadmap, signed on April 24 by the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission, and place the Single Market at the centre of Europe’s competitiveness, industrial resilience, and social agenda.
The Speech
Von der Leyen underlined that the Single Market remains one of the European Union’s strongest assets, but that it must evolve to respond to today’s economic, technological, and geopolitical challenges.
The Commission’s priorities include removing remaining internal barriers, strengthening digital integration, and supporting Europe’s competitiveness in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and semiconductors.
The broader objective is to create a more dynamic and resilient Single Market that supports industrial autonomy, sustainability, fair labour mobility, and social inclusion. For businesses, this means a regulatory environment designed to facilitate growth across borders, while maintaining high standards for workers and citizens.
Inclusion, Labour Mobility and the Social Dimension
A key part of the speech focused on the people behind the Single Market: workers, families, and businesses managing cross-border activity.
Von der Leyen highlighted the importance of the upcoming Fair Labour Mobility Package, which is expected to include measures such as:
- the European Social Security Pass;
- the digitalisation of the recognition of professional qualifications;
- the strengthening of the European Labour Authority;
- improved enforcement of fair mobility rules across the EU.
She also urged the European Parliament to move forward with the adoption of the e-declaration, aimed at simplifying administrative procedures connected to labour mobility within the European Union.
For HR teams and employers, these initiatives are particularly relevant. If implemented effectively, they could reduce administrative complexity, improve coordination between Member States, and make it easier to manage mobile employees across Europe.
In addition, von der Leyen emphasised the social dimension of the Single Market, calling for quality jobs, better salaries, and stronger support for workers and families. Her message was clear: competitiveness and worker protection should not be treated as separate priorities, but as mutually reinforcing objectives.
What Does This Mean for Companies?
For companies managing international assignments, postings, business travel, or cross-border employment, the speech confirms that labour mobility remains high on the EU agenda.
The possible adoption of the European Social Security Pass and the e-declaration could represent an important step towards reducing administrative burdens linked to the posting of workers. These tools may also support stronger cooperation between national authorities and improve the protection of mobile workers.
However, the process is still ongoing. The implementation timeline remains uncertain, and participation by Member States may depend on future political and technical developments. Companies should therefore continue to monitor the legislative process closely and maintain compliance with the current national and EU requirements applicable to posted workers and cross-border employees.
From an HR perspective, the main takeaway is that European labour mobility is moving towards greater digitalisation, stronger enforcement, and more structured worker protection. Employers should be ready to adapt their internal mobility processes accordingly.
Arletti & Partners Support
Arletti & Partners assists companies with the legal, administrative, and tax aspects of international labour mobility.
Our services include support with:
- A1 forms and social security coverage certificates;
- posting of workers compliance;
- immigration and visa procedures;
- permanent establishment risk assessment;
- tax and social security implications of cross-border work.