For many EU member states, finding sufficient human resources has become increasingly challenging. To prioritise the EU Skills Agenda, the European Commission launched the European Year of Skills in March 2023.
As the EU and its member states embark on the digital and green transitions, up- and reskilling and other measures in social and labour policies are vital parts of the agenda. However, the gradual decline of the EU’s workforce due to demographic changes should prompt the EU to accelerate its efforts to attract and retain skilled foreign workers. Moreover, many third countries with comparatively young populations and high unemployment rates could benefit from expanded professional opportunities in the EU.
Against this background, the Egmont Institute, the European Policy Centre (EPC), and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) jointly examine opportunities to strengthen skills-related policies on the intersection of work, migration, and development cooperation policy.
In the spirit of contributing to the European Year of Skills, this project will:
- Gather stakeholders across the aforementioned policy fields to discuss and analyse the EU’s challenges related to skilled labour.
- Produce an EU list of initiatives to attract and retain global skills and talent. It will be presented under the Belgian EU Presidency in the spring of 2024.
- Support EU institutions and decision-makers with fresh and outside-of-the-box thinking.