European business travel network BT4Europe has welcomed a European Commission proposal to create a “digital declaration” system for Posted Workers.

But the Brussels-based group has urged the commission to go further and introduce “mandatory exemptions” to stop travellers having to complete Posted Worker and A1 forms when going on short-term business trips.

Posted Workers are sent to work in other EU countries by their organisations on a temporary basis, while the A1 form provides proof of payment of social security in another member state.

BT4Europe also wants there to be “consistent digitisation” of forms for travellers undertaking longer trips across all EU countries. The lobbying group added that the current proposal allows EU countries to digitise Posted Worker processes on a voluntary basis, which would leave “significant gaps in its implementation”. The group said this should be made mandatory across all member states.

Odete Pimenta da Silva, BT4Europe’s treasurer, said: “This proposal represents a welcome move to reduce regulatory burdens, but it must go further.

“Short-term business trips should be completely exempted from the Posted Worker and A1 form requirements, and the digitisation of longer trips should be mandatory across all member states.

“BT4Europe has been a consistent advocate for cutting red tape in business travel, and we stand ready to work with stakeholders and policymakers to ensure this initiative delivers on its promises.”

In a statement, the European Commission said: “Currently businesses face the complex task of completing multiple and diverse documentation in each EU country when posting workers. The commission has now proposed to reduce this administrative burden by establishing a single digital declaration portal for companies to use when sending workers abroad.”