A single European document « Laissez Passer » should allow employees to easily cross national borders and facilitate border control measures of Member States that are put into place.

The European employers of the Metal, Engineering and Tech-based industries welcome the Joint European Roadmap presented by the Presidents of the Commission and Council. Looking at ways to lift coronavirus containment measures in a coordinated way will create certainty needed for industry.

As the situation varies amongst Member States and regions, the aim of providing a framework offering guidance, is a tool Ceemet appreciates.

Ceemet particularly welcomes the Commission’s statement that “the gradual re-opening of borders should give priority to cross-border (…) workers and should avoid any discrimination against EU mobile workers.”

While Ceemet agrees that national borders could remain closed for most travel, such as for leisure activities, family visits, etc. there is a need to start looking into alternatives for work-related travel. Free movement of services and workers are indeed a pillar of the Single Market and key to industry.

EU « Laissez Passer » : universally usable and easy to implement

To ensure that industry in Europe can restart its activities smoothly, the EU and its Member States must agree on a single, coordinated approach across the union. This is in our collective interest as it is equally effective and efficient for all parties concerned.

This includes traveling abroad for work activities for posted workers and cross-border workers. As long as they are permitted to work by both the home and host Member States, apply the rules of social distancing and other relevant health and safety measures to protect people.

To this end, tech & industry employers call for one EU wide document, an EU Laissez Passer. Ceemet drafted a « Laissez Passer » template that could be used in the current ‘mode of firefighting’, as the Commission has put it. The template was shared with Commission services and the wider business community.

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About Ceemet

• Ceemet represents the metal, engineering and technology-based industry employers in Europe, covering sectors such as metal goods, mechanical engineering, electronics, ICT, vehicle and transport manufacturing.
• Member organisations represent 200,000 companies in Europe, providing over 17 million direct and 35 million indirect jobs.
• Ceemet is a recognised European social partner at the industrial sector level, promoting global competitiveness for European industry through consultation and social dialogue.