Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg have signed a new agreement aimed at strengthening the fight against cross-border social fraud and social
dumping. The treaty was signed on Monday and announced by the Benelux General Secretariat.
The new Benelux framework is designed to make cooperation between labour and social security inspectors more effective. Authorities from the three countries will be able to conduct joint inspections, exchange information more quickly and work together more closely to recover social benefits that were wrongly claimed.
One of the key elements of the treaty is the possibility of carrying out simultaneous inspections across multiple countries when investigating the same case. Inspectors will also be allowed to participate as observers during inspections conducted by their counterparts in neighbouring states, improving coordination and transparency in cross-border investigations.
The agreement also strengthens efforts to tackle abuse related to posted workers and cross-border employment. Authorities will be able to verify so-called A1 forms more efficiently. These documents determine in which country workers and employers must pay social security contributions, and they are often central to investigations into potential fraud.
In addition, the treaty improves cooperation when it comes to recovering unpaid social security contributions or benefits that were wrongly received. Beyond fraud prevention, the three countries will also work together on inspections related to workplace safety, health standards and labour conditions.
According to Rob Beenders, stronger cooperation is essential to protect social security systems. He stressed that companies abusing the system undermine the welfare state and must be dealt with firmly. Because fraudulent activities often cross borders, he said, enforcement must do the same.
Frank Vandenbroucke, who signed the treaty on behalf of Belgium, warned that Europe is increasingly facing problems related to social fraud and unfair labour practices. The new agreement, he said, will significantly improve the chances of detecting and prosecuting cross-border violations.
The treaty will come into force once it has been ratified by all three countries. Other nations may also join the initiative in the future. Photo by LBM1948, Wikimedia commons.