Euro MPs vote in favour of intra-corporate transferees and their families
15 April 2014The European Parliament today adopted its long-awaited Report on intra-corporate transferees.
The Directive will make it easier for international companies to transfer managers, specialists and trainees to a branch in the EU, as well as allowing work in other Member States during the assignment.
Despite lengthy negotiations since the Commission proposed the Directive in July 2010, today’s parliamentary vote, just ahead of the elections, means that Council can adopt the Directive in June 2014.
During negotiations, Permits Foundation was successful in gaining cross-party support from Euro MPs to include two key provisions in the amended text. Eligible family members will be able to accompany the ICT employee from the start of the assignment if they apply at the same time. They will also be entitled to be employed or self-employed in the host Member State throughout the transfer.
Speaking after the vote, Permits Foundation Director Kathleen van der Wilk-Carlton said: “We are delighted that the needs of family members have been recognized. Allowing family members to work is one of the main improvements of the Directive. It makes it easier for a highly qualified employee to accept a temporary transfer to Europe if their partner doesn’t have to give up their own aspirations to work. That’s good for the family, good for business and good for the European economy.”
Once the Directive is adopted by Council, the 25 participating Member States will have 30 months to transpose it into national law. As with other EU policies on migration, the UK, Denmark and Ireland are opting out of this Directive. The UK and Denmark already allow family members of ICTs to work freely during an assignment.
More information:
The European Parliament ICT dossier
