If you have ever searched for international opportunities as a young person in Europe and felt lost — confused by acronyms, unsure which organisations are trustworthy, or simply not knowing where to start — Eurodesk is the answer to that problem. It is the official, publicly funded information network of the European Union specifically designed to make youth mobility information accessible, clear, and free for anyone who needs it.

This guide covers exactly what Eurodesk is, what it offers, who can use it, how it relates to Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, and — importantly — what it does not do, so you know precisely what to expect.

What Is Eurodesk — and Why Does It Exist?

Eurodesk was created to solve a specific problem: young people across Europe have access to a wide range of funded international opportunities — through Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, national youth programmes, and other EU-supported schemes — but finding, understanding, and navigating those opportunities is not always straightforward.

Official EU websites and programme guides are comprehensive, but they are designed for organisations, not always for individual young people who are trying to figure out what applies to them. Eurodesk sits between those official sources and the young person — translating complex eligibility rules, funding structures, and application processes into clear, accessible information.

Eurodesk is not a private company or a commercial agency. It is a publicly funded network, co-financed by the European Commission and national authorities. This means its information is neutral and non-commercial — it has no financial incentive to point you towards any particular programme or opportunity.

What Does Eurodesk Offer? — A Complete Overview of Its Services

Eurodesk provides several distinct types of support for young people and youth professionals. Here is what you can actually access through the network:

Where Does Eurodesk Operate? — The Multiplier Network Explained

Eurodesk operates across 35+ European countries. Within each country, the network functions through what are called multipliers — local organisations, youth centres, schools, libraries, and information offices that are trained and accredited to provide Eurodesk information at a local level.

This structure means that wherever you are in Europe, there is likely a Eurodesk multiplier near you — a local point of contact where you can get in-person guidance, attend an information session, or ask questions about specific opportunities in your country or region. This is the real human support layer that makes Eurodesk particularly valuable for people who find online navigation difficult or who have specific questions that a database cannot answer.

Who Can Use Eurodesk? — Age Limits and Eligibility

Eurodesk’s primary target group is young people aged 13 to 30. If you fall within this age range and are a resident of one of the 35+ countries where Eurodesk operates, you can access all of its information services for free, with no registration required.

Beyond individual young people, Eurodesk also serves:

This distinction is important. Eurodesk provides information. The actual application process for Erasmus+ or ESC placements goes through the relevant national agency, the hosting organisation, or the European Youth Portal. Eurodesk helps you understand what you need to do — it does not do it for you.

Is Eurodesk Free? — How It Is Funded and Why There Are No Charges

Yes. Eurodesk is completely free to use. No registration fees. No consultation charges. No agency fees. No hidden costs of any kind.

Eurodesk is co-financed by the European Commission and by national public authorities in the countries where it operates. This public funding model is precisely what allows it to provide neutral, non-commercial information without needing to charge users or generate revenue through referrals or sponsored content.

No fees. No hidden charges. No agencies. Eurodesk is publicly funded and provides neutral, non-commercial, youth-friendly information.

This matters because the space around international youth opportunities — particularly anything connected to funded programmes — has attracted a significant number of commercial intermediaries who charge young people for services that are available for free through official channels. Eurodesk is the official alternative: verified, neutral, and funded by the public institutions that run the programmes themselves.

What Is the Difference Between Eurodesk and Erasmus+?

This is one of the most common points of confusion, and it’s worth being precise about.

Erasmus+ is the European Union’s flagship programme for education, training, youth, and sport. It funds a wide range of activities — student exchanges, youth exchanges, volunteering placements through the European Solidarity Corps, vocational training, teacher mobility, sport projects, and more. Erasmus+ is a funding programme. It has a budget (€26.2 billion for 2021–2027), it has national agencies that manage applications in each country, and it has specific eligibility rules for each type of activity.

Eurodesk is an information network that helps young people and youth professionals understand and access Erasmus+ — along with other European and international opportunities. It does not fund activities itself. It does not manage applications. It does not replace national agencies or official platforms.

What Is Eurodesk’s “Time to Move” Campaign?

Time to Move is Eurodesk’s annual awareness campaign, run simultaneously across all 35+ countries in the network. It happens once a year and is designed to reach young people who may not yet know about the international opportunities available to them — particularly those who have never considered going abroad or who feel that mobility programmes are not for people like them.

During Time to Move, Eurodesk multipliers across Europe organise local events including information sessions, workshops, talks with past participants, and creative challenges. The goal is to make mobility feel real and accessible — not just a brochure concept — to young people at a local level.

Eurodesk and the European Solidarity Corps — What You Need to Know

The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is the EU’s volunteering programme for young people aged 18 to 30. It provides funded placements — covering travel, accommodation, food, insurance, and pocket money — in organisations across Europe and beyond. ESC is separate from Erasmus+ university exchange but is part of the broader Erasmus+ family.

Eurodesk provides detailed information on ESC, including how the programme works, who is eligible, how to find a hosting organisation, how to write a motivation letter, and what happens after you apply. For young people in particular who are interested in ESC volunteering, Eurodesk is a reliable first stop for understanding the process before navigating the official platforms.

If you are looking for open ESC placements you can apply to right now, Youth Works Hub lists them — updated regularly across Europe, covering both short-term and long-term individual volunteering and team volunteering projects.

Frequently Asked Questions About Eurodesk