A coalition of 19 associations involved in the energy transition sent a letter to the European Commission, on Monday 7 March, asking it to make the training of skilled professionals to achieve the energy transition a priority.
Today, across Europe, electricity contractors report increasing difficulty in recruiting enough professionals, especially with green and digital skills”, stresses the letter, initiated by EuropeOn, an association representing the European electricity industry.
According to the signatory organisations, including WindEurope and SolarPower Europe, the shortage of professionals in the installation of renewable energy technologies, building insulation, heating and cooling, e-mobility... must be addressed as a top priority.
They therefore recommend that Member States be required to assess the shortfall of available professionals in relation to their needs to meet the EU’s climate and energy objectives, as part of the ongoing revision of the EU Directives on Renewable Energy (RED II), Energy Efficiency (EED) and Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD).
In addition, they call for the launch of an EU-wide campaign on skills in this area, as well as the creation of a ‘Skills4Climate/Climate crafters’ platform, similar to the ‘Just Transition Platform’, to bring together Member States, social partners, universities and all relevant European and national stakeholders.
See the letter: https://aeur.eu/f/n5 (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)