ELA supports new step in tackling social security fraud in the EU

A major step for fair labour mobility in the EU: on 15 May 2025, Italy and France signed a new bilateral agreement to strengthen data exchange on unemployment benefits — a key measure to detect and prevent cross-border fraud and error in the social security field. The agreement was signed during a workshop co-organised by ELA and INPS (Italy’s National Social Security Institute) in Rome, with the full support of ELA. The two-day event, “Cooperation and data exchange to improve cross-border social Security services and tackle fraud and error”, brought together public authorities from across Europe as well as the European Commission to explore practical ways to supporting the implementation of this agreement, where necessary and continue improving coordination in tackling fraud in the field of social security. “I would like to congratulate the Italian and French authorities on signing this important cooperation agreement on data exchange today. This strengthened cooperation aims to improve cooperation in tackling cross-border fraud and error in social security. ELA gladly supports such initiatives and continues to stand ready helping Member States with targeted actions and reinforced cooperation ensuring fair and effective labour mobility.”— Cosmin Boiangiu, ELA Executive Director The agreement between INPS and France Travail includes free-of-charge digital data exchange based on predefined risk scenarios, focusing on unemployment and wage compensation schemes — areas...