Legal provisions of COM(2022)526 - European Year of Skills 2023

Please note

This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.

dossier COM(2022)526 - European Year of Skills 2023.
document COM(2022)526 EN
date May 10, 2023

Contents

Article 1 - Subject matter

The year 2023 shall be designated as the ‘European Year of Skills 2023’ (hereinafter referred to as the ‘European Year’).

Article 2 - Objectives

In line with principles 1, 4 and 5 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, contributing to the objectives set out in the 2020 European Skills Agenda and the EU headline targets set by the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the overall objective of the European Year shall be to further promote a mindset of reskilling and upskilling thereby boosting competitiveness of European companies, in particular small and medium-sized entreprises, realising the full potential of the digital and green transitions in a socially fair, inclusive and just manner. More specifically, the activities of the Year will promote skills policies and investments to ensure that nobody is left behind in the twin transition and the economic recovery, and to notably address labour shortages for a better skilled workforce in the Union that is able to seize the opportunities of this process, by:

1. Promoting increased, more effective and inclusive investment into training and upskilling to harness the full potential of the European current and future workforce and to support people in managing job-to-job transitions, active ageing, and benefiting from the new opportunities brought by the ongoing economic transformation.

2. Strengthening skills relevance by closely cooperating with social partners, public and private employment services, companies, education and training providers and developing joined-up approaches with all branches of governments.

3. Matching people’s aspirations and skills-set with labour market opportunities especially those offered by the green and digital transitions and the core sectors in need of recovery from the pandemic. A special focus will be given to activate more people for the labour market, in particular women and young people especially those not in education, employment or training (NEETs).

4. Attracting people from third countries with the skills needed by the Union, including by strengthening learning opportunities and mobility, and by facilitating the recognition of qualifications.

Article 3 - Type of measures

1. The measures to be taken to achieve the objectives set out in Article 2 shall include the following activities at European, national, regional or local level, and, where relevant, in cooperation with third countries, linked to the objectives of the European Year:

(a)conferences, forum discussions and further events to promote debate on the role and contribution of skills policies to achieve competitive, sustainable and fair economic growth in light of the demographic change and to mobilise relevant stakeholders to ensure access to training is a reality on the ground;

(b)working groups, technical meetings and events to promote discussion and mutual learning on the actions and approaches that public, private and third-sector stakeholders can take, including the preparation, publication and dissemination of good practice examples, guidelines and further supporting documents deriving from the events;

(c)initiatives targetting inter alia individuals, companies, chambers of commerce and industry, social partners, public authorities, education and training providers to promote the provision, financing and uptake of upskilling and reskilling opportunities;

(d)information, communication and awareness-raising campaigns on EU initiatives for upskilling and reskilling, promoting their implementation and delivery on the ground and also their uptake by potential beneficiaries;

(e)increasing dialogue in existing stakeholder groups and networks, also via established online platforms;

(f)implementing and as necessary developing further skills intelligence tools, while promoting and disseminating their application in identifying current and future skills needs, particularly linked to the green and digital transitions, the core sectors in need of recovery from the pandemic, energy crisis and the impact of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine;

(g)promoting tools and instruments for increased transparency of qualifications, including qualifications awarded outside the Union;

(h)promoting programmes, funding opportunities, projects, actions and networks of relevance to public, private and non-governmental stakeholders, involved in the design, dissemination and implementation of upskilling and reskilling opportunities and vocational training;

2. The Commission may identify other activities which could contribute to the objectives of the European Year and allow references to the European Year to be used in promoting those activities in so far as they contribute to achieving those objectives. Other Union institutions and Member States may also identify such other activities and suggest them to the Commission

Article 4 - Coordination at national level

The organisation of participation in the European Year at national and regional level shall be a responsibility of the Member States. To that end, each Member State shall appoint a national coordinator that can represent the different branches of government in a holistic manner. The national coordinators shall ensure the coordination of relevant activities at national and regional level.

Article 5 - Coordination at Union level

1. The coordination of the European Year at Union level shall have a transversal approach with a view to creating synergies between the various Union programmes and initiatives in the field of skills.

2. The Commission shall rely on the expertise and assistance of relevant Union Agencies in implementing the European Year.

3. The Commission shall convene meetings of the national coordinators in order to coordinate the activities referred to in Article 3. These meetings shall also serve as opportunities to exchange information regarding the implementation of the European Year at national and Union level. Representatives of the European Parliament and relevant Union Agencies may participate in those meetings as observers.

4. The Commission shall engage with social partners, labour market bodies and representatives of organisations or bodies active in the field of skills, to assist in implementing the European Year at Union level.

Article 6 - Cooperation at international level

For the purpose of the European Year, where necessary, the Commission shall cooperate with third countries and competent international organisations, in particular with the the OECD, Unesco and the ILO, while ensuring the visibility of the Union's participation.

Article 7 - Monitoring and evaluation

By 31 December 2024, the Commission shall present a report to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation, results and overall assessment of the initiatives provided for in this Decision.

Article 8 - Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.