Overview
The EU’s Entry/Exit System went fully operational on April 10, immediately causing delays of up to three hours at major airports as biometric processing bedded in. In an unexpected twist, the IEA listed remote work as the top measure to cut transport energy demand amid Middle East supply disruptions — the first time a major institution has framed telework as an emergency economic measure since the pandemic. The ETUC pushed back, warning it must not come at workers’ expense.
The UK’s April employment law wave landed as planned, with the Fair Work Agency launching, SSP available from day one, and paternity/parental leave no longer requiring a qualifying period. Poland’s four-day work week trial continued with 90 companies and 5,000+ employees, and Europe’s hybrid work model held firm — only 12% of companies offering hybrid plan to require full-time office attendance.
Country Updates
Spain
Working hours bill remains stalled — Congress rejected the 37.5-hour week bill. No parliamentary timetable for 2026. Autonomo contributions frozen for 2026 after failed negotiations (EUR 230-530/month depending on income band). Mandatory B2B e-invoicing (FacturaE/XML) coming by late 2026. Financial reporting threshold removed for autonomo transactions.
DNV still strong vs Schengen rule — Spain’s DNV exempts holders from the 90/180-day Schengen count for time in Spain. Beckham Law caps tax at 24% for qualifying nomads. Madrid announced EUR 3M in grants for new autonomos.
United Kingdom
Employment Rights Act changes live April 6-7 — Fair Work Agency launched as a single state enforcement body. SSP available from day one with waiting days abolished and earnings threshold removed. Day-one paternity and unpaid parental leave rights in effect. Collective redundancy penalties doubled from 90 to 180 days’ pay. New holiday pay record-keeping requirements. Source: Bird & Bird
165,000 UK digital nomads abroad — LiveCareer UK data estimates 165,000 professionals have relocated abroad to work remotely, costing the UK economy over GBP 3 billion annually. Spain is the top destination.
Ireland
Employment permit salary thresholds raised — Ireland increased requirements for employment permits. Remote work review confirmed findings: 94% of requests approved, but awareness remains low.
Estonia
E-residency generates record EUR 125M — 87% year-on-year increase. Programme now has 120,000+ e-residents from 170+ countries with 39,000+ companies. A 2% tax surcharge on board member fees took effect from January 2026. Remote biometric verification planned.
EU-Wide
EES operational — causing airport delays — The biometric Entry/Exit System launched across 29 countries on April 10, with reports of 3-hour delays at major airports as the system processed its first peak-period traffic. Over 45 million border crossings registered since the phased rollout began.
IEA urges remote work as emergency energy measure — The International Energy Agency’s 10-point plan listed working from home as the top measure to cut transport energy demand amid Middle East supply disruptions. EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen endorsed the recommendation. ETUC warned that remote work must remain voluntary and employers must bear WFH costs. Source: IEA
EU AI Act hiring compliance — 2 August 2026 — Companies using AI in hiring must complete bias audits and conformity assessments. Only 8 of 27 EU states have implementation frameworks ready. Fines up to EUR 15M or 3% of global turnover.
Hybrid holds firm — Only 12% of European companies offering hybrid plan to require full-time office attendance. The 2-3 day office week remains the dominant model. Netherlands leads hybrid adoption at 96%, followed by France (96%), Germany (89%), and UK (85%).