Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Commission has welcomed the agreement between EU Parliament and Council on the European Year of Skills.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the EC reminded that it proposed the European Year of Skills in October last year to promote development of skills.
The Commission stressed that the move will help the EU to become more competitive and ensure that its digital and green transitions “are socially fair and just.”
According to the EC, the green transition will create up to 1 million new jobs in the bloc by 2030. The body warned that employers are facing labour shortages in sectors needed for smooth transitions.
“In addition, the Digital Economy and Society Index shows that 4 out of 10 adults and every third person who works in Europe lack basic digital skills,” the Commission noted and expressed belief that “the European Year of Skills will help to address the skills gap.”
Focus of the initiative
The four main objectives include promotion of investments in training, making sure that developed skills match the needs of the labour market, attracting skilled workers from outside the EU and “matching people’s aspirations and skill sets with opportunities on the job market, especially for the green and digital transition and the economic recovery.”
The EU will mark the start of the Year of Skills on 9 May and it will run until May next year. In this period, the EU will launch and promote many initiatives and actions to help workers hone their skills.
“The focus will be on the implementation of existing instruments… however, a number of new EU proposals will be adopted to underpin ongoing efforts and further boost skills development across the member states,” the Commission stressed.
Following political agreement on the European Year of Skills, the EU Parliament and Council are to formally approve EC’s proposal.
The Commission called on EU member states to nominate national coordinators to ensure that European Year of Skills activities are coordinated on the national level.
The EC stressed the importance of encouraging more women to take up ICT jobs in the EU and added that at least 80% of adults in the bloc should acquire basic digital skills by 2030.
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