(15) Encouraging cooperation between Member States at Union level is necessary to help Member States to tackle undeclared work more efficiently and effectively. In that context, the Platform should aim to facilitate and support the exchange of best practices and information and to provide a framework at Union level for the purpose of developing common understanding, expertise and analysis on undeclared work. Shared definitions and common concepts of undeclared work should reflect labour market developments. The Platform should also encourage cooperation between the different enforcement authorities of Member States participating in such cross-border actions on a voluntary basis.
(16) This Decision aims to encourage cooperation at Union level between Member States. The situation with regard to undeclared work is very different between the Member States and the needs of the relevant authorities and other actors in the different Member States with regard to areas of cooperation therefore also differ. Member States remain competent to decide on their level of involvement in the activities approved at plenary level by the Platform.
(17) Close and effective cooperation between the Member States to support and complement their activities in tackling undeclared work should be encouraged at Union level. Action at national level depends on the particular context in the individual Member States and activities within the Platform cannot replace an assessment at national level of the appropriate actions to be taken.
(18) Member States and their relevant authorities remain competent with regard to the identification, analysis and solving of practical problems relating to the enforcement of relevant Union law on working conditions and social protection at work, and for deciding what measures to take at national level to give effect to the outcomes of the activities of the Platform.
(19) The Platform should make use of all relevant sources of information, in particular studies, bilateral agreements concluded between Member States and multilateral cooperation projects, and create synergies between existing instruments and structures at Union level to maximise the deterrent or preventive effect of those measures. The actions of the Platform could take the form of a framework for joint training, peer reviews, the establishment of tools such as an interactive knowledge bank, taking into account existing feasibility studies, inter alia, the work done by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), and, while recognising the importance of data protection, solutions for data sharing. European campaigns or common strategies could increase the awareness of undeclared work, building on policies and strategies to raise awareness of undeclared work which already exist to varying degrees in the Member States. The Platform should also involve non-governmental actors as important sources of information.
(20) The Platform should contribute to the strengthening of cooperation between Member States, including by facilitating innovative approaches to cross-border cooperation and enforcement as well as by evaluating Member States' experiences of such cooperation. Timely exchanges of information are essential to curb undeclared work.
(21) Where a member of the Platform considers it to be beneficial for the exchange of information and best practices within the Platform to raise specific cases, those cases should be anonymised as appropriate. The Platform can be effective only in an environment where persons raising cases of undeclared work are protected against unfavourable treatment. The Platform should therefore be a forum for the exchange of best practices in that respect.
(22) The exchange of information and best practices should allow the Platform to provide useful input for possible action at Union level to tackle undeclared work, including by the Commission. In the context of the European Semester, the activities of the Platform might provide a useful input where measures related to undeclared work are considered.
(23) Different national enforcement authorities are involved with undeclared work, such as labour inspectorates, other authorities dealing with health and safety at work, social security inspectorates and tax authorities. In some cases, migration authorities and employment services as well as customs authorities and authorities in charge of implementation of the common transport policy, the police, the public prosecutor's office and the social partners may also be involved.
(24) In order to tackle undeclared work comprehensively and successfully, a policy mix needs to be implemented in the Member States. This should be facilitated by encouraging structured cooperation between relevant authorities and other actors. The Platform should include all relevant national authorities, in particular enforcement authorities, which lead and/or are active in tackling undeclared work. Member States remain competent to decide
