ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
What is the EURES Cross-border Partnership?
The EURES (EURopean Employment Services) Cross-border Partnership has been established to make things easier for those who wish to commute daily or weekly across the border in order to earn a living. It does this by attempting to overcome at least some of the obstacles which people face.
In particular it addresses information gaps. For example, jobseekers not knowing what employment and training opportunities exist on the other side of the border, how the taxation system works or how their social security entitlements might be affected by accepting a job.
The Partnership also aims to assist employers by providing them with access to a larger pool of labour i.e. jobseekers living on the other side of the border. Advice is available to employers on a range of cross-border recruitment issues.
How is the Partnership Funded?
Most of the funding is coming from the European Commission through the EURES (EURopean Employment Services) Programme. The Partner Organisations also make a contribution.
What region is covered by the Partnership?
The Partnership covers all of Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland (Louth, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim).
What is the Structure of the Partnership?
The Partnership employs a full-time Co-ordinator . A network of specialist advisers on cross--border issues has been established. Known as EURESadvisers, they are existing employees of the Partner Organisations who are trained to advise jobseekers and employers on cross-border labour issues. Their roles are explained in the Euresadviser Section
The Partnership has a Steering Committee of up to 12 members nominated by the Partner Organisations. The European Commission in Brussels also has a representative on the Committee.
Do Similar Partnerships Exist Elsewhere?
The EURopean Employment Services (EURES) operates on a transnational and cross-border basis. There are approximately 600 EURESadvisers operating throughout Europe, representing Public Employment Services, Trade Union and Employer Organisations. There are currently 20 EURES Partnerships operating in cross-border regions which exist as integral parts of the entire EURES network.
What Type of Activity is The Partnership Involved In?
The Partnership is engaged in a number of activities all aimed at making things easier for those seeking to travel across the border to work (or train) and employers wishing to recruit workers living across the border.
For example the Partnership:
established and trained a network of specialist advisers on labour mobility issues within the Partner Organisations on both sides of the border. They provide an Information, Advice and Placement Service for jobseekers and employers interested in cross-border working or recruitment/training facilitated arrangements for the cross-border exchange of job vacancies between DEL JobCentres in Northern Ireland and FAS Placement Services Offices in the border counties of the Republic of Ireland carried out a study identifying obstacles to taking up vocational training opportunities on the other side of the border arranged seminars to develop closer working relationships between the staff of the Partner Organisations developed a website which, among other things, gives advice and information about practical issues of interest to cross-border workers and employers e.g. taxation, social security entitlement and educational qualifications. (www.eures-crossborder.org) attended various University recruitment fairs in the region to provide advice on cross-border working and training organised conferences on cross-border labour mobility.