Theme1
Sub-Projects – Theme 2 – Labour markets
What has been done so far?
Unemployment is still a major problem in Central and Eastern Europe, in particular in border regions which are peripheral areas on a national level and sometimes even in a European context. As the experiences from some Western European countries show - along with domestic schemes aimed at creating jobs - another possibility to enhance the situation on labour markets in border regions, an improved cooperation with neighbouring countries as regards employment policies as well as an increased mobility of workforce across the border could be possible.
In order to examine whether the scenario of cross-border commuters passing the border every day on their way to work to the neighbouring country is imaginable and feasible in the Euroregion Nemunas (Lithuania-Poland-Kaliningrad), the subproject "Labour market move possibilities across border in Europe" had been implemented within the RFO "Change on Borders". It was coordinated by the Nemunas Euroregion Marijampole Bureau (LT) and had the aim to analyse and disseminate information on labour market trends, demand and supply, legal environment and basic restrictions in a cross-border context.
The project started in December 2005. On 3rd February 2006, a kick-off meeting took place in the Spanish municipality of Estepa in the region of Andalusia (ES) which together with the Regio Basiliensis (CH) brought some valuable experiences and expertise from Western and Southern Europe to the project. The first meeting of the project partners aimed at getting to know the other institutions and regions involved in the project, at becoming familiar with the situation on the labour market in the respective border areas and at discussing most urgent questions related to the administrative and financial management of the project.
After the meeting, the partners from Andalusia and the Euroregion Nemunas elaborated two research studies - a second important step - which analyse the characteristics of the labour markets in both regions, examine the legal framework related to employment possibilities for foreigners and give recommendations with regard to cross-border co-operation in labour market policies. In order to highlight the differences and similarities of the regions and to generalise the results of these two studies, one joint study has been worked out as well.
All three publications were presented on 27th October 2006 in Marijampole on the occasion of the second partner meeting. During this meeting, several reports on cross-border labour market issues were elaborated, recommendations for improving co-operation in employment policies were given and proposals for problem solutions were made.
A major difficulty at the moment is the imbalance between labour supply and demand which considering the experiences of Andalusia could be mitigated by means of improved, systematic cross-border co-operation. This co-operation could be based on:
- Creation of reliable and easily accessible regional database of workforce information
- Formation of labour market flows directed by local employment agencies
- Establishment of a specialised employment centre
- Organisation of special training in line with characteristics of neighbouring border regions
- Cross-border networks of employers, employment centres etc.
- Promotion of cross-border labour markets on a national and regional level
- Simplification of legal procedures for visa and work permit for residents of border regions
- Reduction of legal restrictions for foreign employees
The project was finalised at the end of the year 2006. It finally contributed to an improved exchange of information on labour market issues between different regions, to an increased dissemination of information on the situation on labour markets in the participating regions and to an enhanced knowledge of legal, practical, technical and social aspects related to cross-border co-operation in labour market policies. Moreover, an expert network has been created providing a solid base for further projects in the future, for improvements in cross-border labour market co-operation and in the long term for the creation of a functioning cross-border labour market.
