The EU decentralised agencies carry out technical, scientific or managerial tasks that help the EU institutions make and implement policies.

They also support cooperation between the EU, national governments, and social partners by pooling technical and specialist expertise.

Decentralised agencies are set up for an indefinite period and are located across the EU. Each agency is unique and fulfils an individual function.

The EU's directorate-general for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion works together with the following four EU decentralised agencies:

• The European Labour Authority (ELA) helps ensure that EU rules on labour mobility and social security coordination are enforced effectively and fairly, assists national authorities in cooperating to enforce these rules, and makes it easier for citizens and businesses to benefit from the internal market.
• The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EUROFOUND) delivers and disseminates important knowledge on work-related and social matters to contribute to sound and evidence-based policies in those fields.
• The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) is committed to making Europe a safer, healthier and more productive place to work. For example, it identifies and assesses new and emerging risks at work.
• The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) supports development of European vocational education and training and in-service training policies and contributes to their implementation.
• European Training Foundation (ETF) helps transition and developing countries to harness the potential of their human capital through the reform of education, training and labour market systems in the context of the EU's external relations policy.