This Regulation establishes the European Labour Authority (the ‘Authority’).

The Authority shall assist Member States and the Commission in their effective application and enforcement of Union law related to labour mobility across the Union and the coordination of social security systems within the Union. The Authority shall act within the scope of the Union acts listed in paragraph 4, including all directives, regulations, and decisions based on those acts, and of any further legally binding Union act which confers tasks on the Authority.

This Regulation shall not in any way affect the exercise of fundamental rights as recognised in the Member States and at Union level, including the right or freedom to strike or to take other action covered by the specific industrial relations systems in Member States in accordance with national law or practice. Nor does it affect the right to negotiate, conclude and enforce collective agreements, or to take collective action in accordance with national law or practice.

The scope of activities of the Authority shall cover the provisions of this Regulation related to the cooperation between Member States in order to tackle undeclared work.

This Regulation shall respect the competences of Member States with regard to the application and enforcement of Union law listed in paragraph 4.

It shall not affect the rights or obligations of individuals or employers granted by Union law or national law or practice, nor the rights and obligations of national authorities deriving thereof, as well as the autonomy of the social partners as recognised by the TFEU.

This Regulation shall be without prejudice to existing bilateral agreements and administrative cooperation arrangements between Member States, in particular those related to concerted and joint inspections.