Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has said she is disappointed after it was confirmed an advice service giving guidance on living and working in other European countries is to close at the end of the year.

The European Employment Service provides information for those wishing to live and work in other European Economic Area countries, as well as providing support for employers recruiting locally. Strangford MLA Ms Armstrong has now had it confirmed by Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín the service will cease operating at the end of the transition period on December 31.

“Having made an enquiry regarding the future of the European Employment Service, it is extremely disappointing news to have it confirmed it will stop operating here after the transition period,” said the Strangford MLA.

“The service provides valuable assistance to jobseekers and employers but thanks to the ending of freedom of movement across the EU and European Economic Area, that will now have to end, and citizens here no longer seeing vacancies across Europe.

“We are dependent on sending workers throughout the EU the same way we are dependent on workers coming from other countries. Without this service assisting with that, we run the risk of seeing potentially enormous damage being caused to our economy.”