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Your Europe Advice (YEA)

“Your Europe Advice” (YEA) is an online EU advice service for the public provided by legal experts from ECAS operating under contract with the European Commission. It consists of a team of about 60 lawyers who cover all 24 official EU languages and are familiar both with EU law and national laws in all EU countries. The experts respond to the questions within 72 hours, free of charge and in the language chosen by the user. Enquiries can be submitted either via an online form. Every year the Your Europe Advice experts answer around 21,000 enquiries.

  • What is YEA?
  • What is ECAS' role?

“Your Europe Advice” (YEA) is an online EU advice service for the public provided by legal experts from ECAS operating under contract with the European Commission. It consists of a team of about 60 lawyers who cover all 24 official EU languages and are familiar both with EU law and national laws in all EU countries. The experts respond to the questions within 72 hours, free of charge and in the language chosen by the user. Enquiries can be submitted either via an online form. Every year the Your Europe Advice experts answer around 21,000 enquiries.

Coordinate the enquiries and their responses between the legal experts.

yea people
YEA Expert – Annual Training Seminar

Ensure the quality control of the replies in terms not only of legal accuracy, but especially of the user-friendliness of the replies (easily understandable and jargon-free language, links to legal provisions and signposting to relevant authorities).

Develop quarterly feedback reports on the latest developments based on the enquiries received by YEA. These reports are used by the Internal Market Scoreboard to highlight ongoing issues with developing the internal market.

Co-organise with the European Commission an annual training seminar for YEA experts in Brussels.

Facilitate YEA outreach activities in the member states and provide presentations on YEA in every Member State to those who are interested.

Your Europe Advice answers questions from…

  • Individuals who are nationals of the European Union, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein;
  • Non-Europeans – if they are family members of an EU national or resident in an EU country;
  • Businesses having their seat in the EU;
  • European/national information and advice services, on behalf of individuals.

Questions about…

  • A real (not theoretical) situation – even if it is just an intention to move to another EU country;
  • Rights in one or more EU countries and under EU law Typical areas for enquiries;
  • EU rights when travelling, living, working, retiring or studying in another EU country;
  • The rights of consumers within the EU

Most recurrent topics

Topics typically handled by Your Europe advice concern social security (questions about pension rights, family benefits, unemployment benefits), residence (the right to live in another EU country, and what formalities are involved), visas (Schengen and other visas for people from outside the EU), work (recognition of professional qualifications and diplomas, people sent to work abroad), vehicles (registering or buying a car in another EU country, driving licences), and taxes (finding out in which country you have to pay taxes).