- BT4Europe, the European Network of Business Travel Associations, is urging the European Union to implement a 14-day exemption from A1 certification requirements for short-term business travel.
The call follows mounting evidence that outdated administrative procedures—originally designed to coordinate social security—are placing an unsustainable burden on businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), public authorities, and non-governmental organisations.
A Critical Barrier to EU Mobility
Since the implementation of Regulation (EC) 883/2004, even the shortest cross-border business trips require an A1 certificate to prove social security coverage. This includes internal meetings, training sessions, trade fairs, and other temporary activities. The current system, originally developed for long-term postings, is disproportionately complex and time-consuming for today’s fast-paced, short-duration business mobility.
“Driving across a border for a two-day conference should not require the same bureaucracy as a multi-month secondment,” said Odete Pimenta da Silva, Chair of the A1 Working group and Treasurer of BT4Europe. “This inefficiency is a cost EU businesses and administrations can no longer afford.”
The Scale of the Burden
BT4Europe’s analysis reveals that A1 applications generate a staggering administrative load:
- In Germany alone, nearly 490,000 A1 applications were filed in 2022, resulting in over 81,000 hours of company time and nearly 368,000 hours for government staff—equivalent to over 1,000 full-time jobs across public and private sectors.
- Across the EU, millions of short business trips, most lasting less than five days, face the same requirement, regardless of risk or purpose.
- – A recent VDR survey confirms that 98% of cross-border business trips from Germany in 2024 lasted under 5 days, illustrating the mismatch between trip duration and bureaucratic effort.
Proposed Reforms for a Modern EU
BT4Europe is calling on EU policymakers to act swiftly in the new legislative cycle. Key recommendations include:
- A 14-Day Exemption: Eliminate A1 requirements for business trips of up to 14 consecutive days.
- A Clear Definition of Business Travel: Covering meetings, site visits, internal or client audits, conferences, product demos, seminars, and similar non-commercial activities.
- Mandatory Digitalisation: Standardise and digitise processes across all Member States, building on the European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS) initiative.
These changes are fully aligned with the European Commission’s objective to cut reporting requirements by 25%—and by 35% for SMEs—and to support digital transformation across the Single Market.
A Unique Opportunity for Change
With the European Parliament having deferred reform in 2024, the upcoming legislative cycle offers a crucial window to modernise the A1 system. BT4Europe urges all stakeholders—businesses, policymakers, and civil society—to seize this opportunity for a more efficient, proportionate, and digitally enabled regime.
Conclusion: Now Is the Time to Act
In 2022 alone, more than 2.5 million A1 applications drained over 2 million hours from European administrations and companies. This inefficiency hinders economic agility, burdens SMEs, and undermines EU ambitions for a more dynamic and integrated Single Market.
“A practical, proportionate and digital solution is within reach,” Odete Pimenta da Silva concluded. “Let’s cut the red tape and let Europe’s businesses get back to what they do best: driving growth, innovation, and connection across borders.”
