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EURES (EURopean Employment Services)

EURES in cross-border regions

EU internal border regions cover 40% of EU territory and are home to almost 2 million cross-border commuters. According to the latest report on intra-EU labour mobility, more than 1.3 million people in the EU lived in one country and worked in another.

Nevertheless, cross-border workers may face a number of obstacles on a daily basis, such as different national practices, social security systems, taxation rules and legal systems. In addition, public transport is often less developed in cross-border regions in comparison to in-country transport, which further impedes people’s ability to work abroad in the EU.

EURES helps cross-border workers overcome these obstacles by providing financial support to cross-border partnerships, under the umbrella of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).

In these partnerships, EURES members and partners work together across borders to increase the ability of workers to work abroad and employers to enable this. Organisations that are not part of the EURES network may also participate if they can help in this regard. Partners usually include public employment services, employers’ groups, and organisations such as universities, business associations, trade unions and chambers of commerce.

In 2024, 2025 and 2026, 6 cross-border partnerships, involving 8 countries receive ESF+ funding. In addition, a number of other partnerships are active without EU financial support.

The cross-border partnerships supported by ESF+ are shown below. Click the links to find out more about the partnerships and their ongoing activities and services, or to request further information or support:

 

The overarching goal of the partnerships is to share information and advice for jobseekers and employers on working and recruiting/employing across borders, offer placement opportunities and provide pre- and post-recruitment services.

Pools of experts are available to support workers at each stage of their career and answer any questions they may have about the practicalities of working across the border.

The partnerships also monitor the flows of workers across their respective borders and the development of the job market, and identify obstacles that may hamper the free movement of workers within the regional cross-border job market.

Each year, the partnerships carry out numerous activities in support of both jobseekers and employers.

For further advice on job opportunities in your region, search for EURES Advisers by cross-border partnership.