On 15 September 2026, the European Commission presented its Fair Labour Mobility package. It contains five legislative proposals covering digital social-security documents, skills portability, recognition of professional qualifications and stronger cooperation between competent authorities.
For employers posting workers, the European Social Security Pass, ESSPASS, is particularly relevant. Under the proposal, a worker or employer could request and receive the portable A1 document fully online and store it in the European Digital Identity Wallet. Authorities would be able to verify the document more quickly across borders. Digitalisation of the A1 document is envisaged one year after the ESSPASS Regulation enters into force.
Another part of the package would accelerate recognition of qualifications. The Commission proposes a mandatory digital procedure for regulated professions, aiming to reduce the processing period from three months to five weeks. For qualifications obtained outside the EU, it proposes common standards and a four-month period, compared with the current average of fourteen months.
For Croatian employers, these changes could support faster posting of workers, recruitment of professionals and proof of social-security status during cross-border inspections. The European Parliament and the Council will now consider the package. Existing A1 and qualifications-recognition procedures apply until the new rules are adopted and enter into force.