On 11 and 12 March 2026, the European Labour Mobility Congress (ELMC) brought together policymakers, social partners, researchers, and industry leaders to tackle persistent barriers hindering labour mobility across the European Single Market. The Congress, organised by the European Labour Mobility Institute under the theme “Barriers down, Europe forward”, explored how services and crossborder work can evolve in a rapidly changing economic and demographic landscape.  

Among the many discussions on administrative hurdles, regulatory complexity and the competitiveness of the Single Market, the EUfunded MobileCare project took centre stage as a pivotal contribution to the debate on labour mobility in the home care sector, as a domain where demographic shifts challenge both labour markets and social systems.  

Reframing Mobility: Beyond Barriers to Meaningful Solutions 

Speakers across the programme highlighted how administrative constraints (from visa and work permit delays to inconsistent recognition of qualifications) continue to impede worker mobility, especially for third-country nationals. While simplification at EU level remains a policy goal, many practical obstacles persist at national level, leading to irregular situations and lost opportunities for both workers and providers.  

Participants stressed that transparency, not just simplification, is essential. Sharing good practices, harmonising processes between Member States, and improving cross-border data flows are critical to ensure fair working conditions and to make mobility more predictable for workers and employers alike. 

MobileCare: Social Dialogue at the Heart of Sustainable Mobility 

A dedicated session on MobileCare, moderated by Cécilia Jornod (Communication & Project Coordinator, EFSI), brought together partners from the project to focus on the outcomes of two years of research and joint social dialogue. 

Participants included Rebeca Dragos (Domina), Radmila Obrenovic (Trade Union of Employees of Health and Social Care of Serbia), Marek Benio (European Labour Mobility Institute), and Ada Zaorska (Polish Home Care Association). 

The workshop tackled core challenges and forwardlooking solutions in the homebased care sector, with a focus on: 

• Financial mechanisms to formalise care work, including voucher programmes, allowances and tax incentives, while ensuring these tools genuinely support formal employment rather than creating loopholes.  

• Process transparency and harmonisation across Member States to protect workers’ rights and clarify expectations for both care workers and recipients.  

• Rotation systems to sustain continuous care provision, especially in the live-in care context, while recognising the social benefits of shared living and community integration, and identifying pressing challenges like housing availability.  

The session also marked the official closing of the MobileCare project, underscoring not a conclusion but a call for continued dialogue and cooperation to advance the home care sector across Europe. 

From Policy Debate to Practice: What’s Next? 

ELMC 2026 made clear that labour mobility (especially in home care and other services) cannot be addressed solely through regulatory reform. It requires sustained collaboration across Member States, deeper social dialogue, and a willingness to translate research into actionable policy recommendations. 

ELMC 2026 demonstrated that removing barriers isn’t just a policy aspiration, it’s a strategic imperative if Europe is to remain competitive, inclusive and socially cohesive in the years ahead.