EURES Cross Border Partnership Established in 1993 - to facilitate the free movement of people who wish to commute daily or weekly across the Ireland/Northern Ireland border in order to work. To provide information to workers and jobseekers on employment related issues e.g. employment opportunities, taxation and social security on both sides of the border. To assist employers by providing them with access to a larger pool of labour. Advice is also provided to employers on a range of cross-border recruitment issues. EURES Ireland Northern Ireland has been in existence since 1993 and is one of 20 such partnerships in Europe. The Partnerships have a particularly important role to play in cross border regions because of the obstacles that cross border workers, employers and jobseekers face on a regular basis, for example cross border taxation issues, social security benefits, medical services. EURES helps address these obstacles through the provision of general information, signposting to the relevant agencies and through the identification of particular obstacles which hinder cross border movement. [Obstacles can be discussed generally with the relevant bodies in order to try and find a resolution. Outstanding systemic obstacles are reported annually to the European Commission. ]

Who is involved? Who are the Partners? There are seven organisations, from both sides of the border, represented on the Partnership. These are (in alphabetical order):- Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) Department of Social Protection (DSP) Dundalk Chamber of Commerce Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation (IBEC) Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Londonderry Chamber of Commerce

Priorities Promote the recruitment of people from the Live Register Address skills mismatches and employment bottlenecks Provide information and recruitment service for workers and jobseekers

How can we help you? Activities A series of 3 Job Fairs in the Border region Seminars http://www.europeanjobdays.eu/en/events/ieni-european-online-job-day Employer Speed Networking events Cross Border Tax Breakfast Website wwww.eurescrossborder.eu Advisers available to assist Information packs on Mobility and Redundancy A wide range of activities are planned for 2015 with an increased focus on services for employers and using new technologies to support the work of the Partnership. The activities will be located not only in the high density areas but also along the entire length of the border. In a new departure EURES Cross Border is developing an On Line event to encourage specialist professionals from across Europe (and beyond) to come, or indeed to return, to live and work in the Border area. Areas with skills shortages such as IT, software development and biomedical technologies will be amongst those targeted. This On-Line initiative is happening next Thursday with over 20 companies participating on line so as an employer you can stay at your desk and still participate.

Your EURES Contacts in the North East Brenda McGeeney – Dundalk Chamber of Commerce Brenda@Dundalk.ie - 042-9336343 Stephen Hanna – Employer Engagement Unit, Department of Social Protection, Dundalk Stephen.Hanna@welfare.ie 042-9392675