The Institute of
Travel Management (ITM) has launched an EU Travel Taskforce to provide travel
managers with a clear understanding of regulatory requirements for business
travellers entering and travelling within the EU. The move has been prompted by
concerns of ITM’s buyer members around the challenges of conveying accurate
information to travellers and bookers in preparation for resuming business
travel.
The taskforce consists
of ITM buyer members, including Alison Rogan, ITM chair & global head of travel
& expense at Barclays and Stephen Swift, global travel manager, Ford Motor
Company, as well as representatives from immigration and visa specialist Newland
Chase, legal experts at Travlaw, and tax and social security consultants from
Deloitte.
The taskforce
will consider the impact on travellers of A1 certification, the EU Posted
Worker Directive and visa and work permit changes since Brexit for UK business
travellers entering the EU, as well as EU nationals entering the UK.
The taskforce has
already met once and will continue with regular sessions over the next two
months. The association is also running an associated campaign including a
series of webinars and panel discussions for ITM members.
“Significant
challenges are now coming to light for our buyer members and their travellers
regarding the correct paperwork and requirements for travel to, from and within
the EU as corporates prepare for resuming business travel,” said Scott Davies,
CEO, ITM. “Whilst travel was supressed because of the pandemic, these EU
regulations weren’t front of mind, but now that vaccination programmes are
well-established and business travel looks set to return, it’s become a
priority for buyers.
“The key issue for
travel managers is making sure they understand fully the requirements for
business travellers with entering EU countries, to enable them to give those travellers
crystal clear information about what to expect at the border, make sure they
have the right paperwork and ensure travellers don’t face disruption when
entering the EU.
“This is a complex
topic given so much has changed in legislation and enforcement of immigration,
visa and work permit requirements since 2019. It’s not only due to Brexit but
also a sharper focus on enforcement of paperwork required for short term EU
business trips as well as changes to longer term assignments.
“Plus there are
known challenges around who owns the transient travel piece given global
mobility teams, not travel managers, are often concerned with supporting
travellers on longer term assignments. In addition, smaller corporates,
or those buyers who don’t manage travel full time, may not have the resources
to find the answers and advise their travellers accordingly.”