A pilot project to help young people find a job in another EU country has been launched by the European Commission. In its initial phase 'Your first EURES job' will aim to improve cross-border mobility for 5000 people. It will also serve as a testing ground for transforming EURES – the network of Member States' employment services – towards a pan-European employment service.

As announced in the Commission's April 2012 Employment Package, the Commission intends to improve EURES so as to provide more transparency on the European labour market and direct jobseekers and job changers to where the jobs are. It will also provide easier and real-time access to vacancies available in the EU, while presenting employers with a pool of candidates with the right skills.

Under the 'Your first EURES job' scheme, four selected employment services from Germany, Spain, Denmark and Italy will help young people look for work in Member States other than their own. As part of the scheme, young EU nationals between the ages of 18-30 will be provided with information and help for their recruitment, as well as the possibility of financial support for their application or training. Small and medium businesses, i.e. companies with up to 250 employees, may apply for financial support to cover part of the cost of training newly recruited workers and helping them settle in.