Following an exchange of views on this issue with the European Commission earlier this week, MEPs adopted a topical resolution on Wednesday 10 February in which they expressed concern about skills shortages, particularly digital skills.
“Currently 42% of Europeans lack basic computer skills. In addition, the current crisis is putting many young people who are in the process of training in difficulty - no internships, no mobility, distance learning - which will make it even more difficult to integrate them into the world of work”, said France’s Anne Sander (EPP), who called for stronger links between training and the business world.
The resolution - adopted by 606 votes in favour, 12 against and 72 abstentions - follows the European Skills Agenda, presented in the summer of 2020 by the European Commission (see EUROPE 12518/1). At the heart of this strategy is a skills pact, which to date has resulted in “three skills partnerships (which) are already in place and a total of €11 billion (which) have been committed by partners in the industrial ecosystems to improve the skills of their workforce in the coming years”, explained Commissioner for Employment, Nicolas Schmit (see EUROPE 12599/34). The Commission also announced its intention to launch the initiatives on Individual Learning Accounts and on micro-credentials in 2021.
For their part, MEPs believe that a much larger share of the EU’s new long-term budget and Next Generation EU programme should be devoted to actions on the European skills agenda. In view of the high number of young people not in any form of education, employment or training (NEET), they recommend strengthening early warning systems to identify young people at risk and call for the strengthening of skills assessment and vocational guidance.
Link to the resolution: https://bit.ly/2Z5QNeH (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)