- BT4Europe welcomes European Commission support for A1 exemption for short-term business travel.
BT4Europe, the European Network of Business Travel Associations, welcomes the European Commission’s written confirmation that it supports an exemption from the obligation to request a Portable Document (PD) A1 for short-term business trips within the EU.
In its official reply to BT4Europe, signed on behalf of Executive Vice-President Séjourné and Commissioners Dombrovskis and Tzitzikostas, the Commission recognises the administrative burden caused by the current A1 rules and confirms that an exemption for business trips is already under discussion between the co-legislators in the context of the revision of Regulation (EC) 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems.
“This is an important milestone,” said Odete Pimenta da Silva, Treasurer of BT4Europe. “The European business travel community has been calling for years to remove this unnecessary red tape for short-term trips. The Commission’s explicit support shows that our message has been heard.”
In her reply to the BT4Europe letter, Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, also added: “The Commission supports such an amendment of the rules. According to the last Provisional Agreement which was reached in December 20212, the concept of “business trips” covers employed or self-employed activities, which are limited in time and relate to the business interests of the employer / self-employed person, excluding the provision of services or the delivery of goods, but including attending business meetings, cultural and scientific events, conferences and seminars, such as those related to academic research, or receiving training”.
“I believe that – given the important progress made under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU – an agreement is within reach under Cypriot Presidency.”
BT4Europe had called for a 14-day exemption for business trips, including travel to attend meetings, conferences or training sessions, alongside full digitalisation of the remaining procedures. The Commission confirmed that these measures are in line with its ambition to simplify rules, reduce administrative burden, and foster competitiveness across the Single Market.
Furthermore, the Commission reiterated its plans to:
- Ensure that PD A1 procedures can be completed fully online under the Single Digital Gateway Regulation;
- Finalise an impact study on digital interoperability between A1 and posting declarations by the end of 2025;
- Introduce a European Social Security Pass in 2026 as part of the Fair Labour Mobility Package to enable real-time digital verification.
BT4Europe continues to urge the European Parliament and the Council to reach a swift final agreement on this exemption, ensuring that short-term business travel remains frictionless, competitive and compliant within the European Union.
