EURES: Job search services across the EU

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2016/589 — network of employment services (EURES), workers’ access to mobility services and greater integration of labour markets

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

It updates earlier rules on a European network of employment services (EURES) to take account of changing mobility patterns among workers and technological advances.
The network helps people exercise their right, under Article 45 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to look for work in another EU country.
The regulation was amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/1149 which sets up the European Labour Authority (ELA) and sets out the role of the ELA in the organisation of the EURES network.

KEY POINTS

The regulation sets out rules on:

organising and promoting the EURES network;
Europe-wide sharing of data on job vacancies, applications and CVs;
measures to achieve a better balance between supply and demand of workers, through better matching of skills and jobs;
support services for workers and employers.

The EURES service respects the principle of equal opportunities and is available to all workers and employers in the EU.

The network helps to:

apply people’s right of free movement in practice;
implement the EU’s coordinated employment strategy;
improve the operation and integration of national labour markets.

The network consists of coordination offices (both European and national) and designated public employment services in each EU country, each with their own specific responsibilities.

EU governments must:

upload details of job vacancies and applications to the EURES website, which must be prominently promoted and easily searchable;
cooperate with each other and the European Commission on interoperability between national systems, using the European job classification system (ESCO);
establish inventories, to align their national, regional and sectoral job classifications with ESCO;
ensure workers and employers can access national support services without undue delay (both online and face-to-face services);
monitor and make public labour mobility flows in their country, including shortages and surpluses in particular sectors;
collect data on the use made of the network, the placements achieved and the level of customer satisfaction.

EURES members and partners must:

help workers and employers register on the site and update, revise or withdraw the data concerned;
provide basic information and guidance, including any post-recruitment assistance, required;
refer requests for specific information to the relevant national authorities (issues like social security and taxes, etc.).

European Coordination Office

Under amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1149, the EURES European Coordination Office is set up within the ELA and will assist the EURES network in carrying out its activities

The Commission must:

submit a report on EURES activities every 2 years;
provide a full evaluation report on the impact of this regulation by 13 May 2021.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 12 May 2016. However, some rules have only applied since 13 May 2018, including those on the standardised uploading of data to the website, and access to job vacancies and CVs.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

EURES (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2016/589 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 April 2016 on a European network of employment services (EURES), workers’ access to mobility services and the further integration of labour markets, and amending Regulations (EU) No 492/2011 and (EU) No 1296/2013 (OJ L 107, 22.4.2016, pp. 1-28)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2016/589 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

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