Proposal for a Decision on a European Year of Skills 2023

Summary:

Legislative initiative - tabled by the European Commission on 12 October 2022 - establishing the European Year of Skills for 2023. This is a text with EEA relevance.

Further information:

The green and digital transition set out for the European Union (EU) comprise the opening up new opportunities for people and the economy. Having the relevant skills empowers people to successfully navigate labour market changes and to remain fully engaged in society. However, over three quarters of companies the EU report difficulties in finding workers with the necessary skills. Figures from Eurostat suggest that only 37% of adults undertake training on a regular basis. The Digital Economy and Society Index shows that 4 out of 10 adults and every third person who works in the EU lack basic digital skills.

In order to boost competitiveness of companies, to realise the full potential of the transition in a socially fair, inclusive and just manner, the President of the European Commission announced during her annual State of the European Union (SOTEU) address the European Year of Skills for 2023. These aims include:

1. Promoting increased, more effective and inclusive investment into training and upskilling;
2. Strengthening skills relevance;
3. Matching people’s aspirations and skills-set with labour market opportunities;
4. Attracting people from third countries with the skills needed by the EU.

The proposed Decision was adopted by the European Commission on 12 October 2022. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text for this file was reached on 7 March 2023.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), 14/10/2022: 2023: European year of skills… for quality or precarious jobs? https://www.etuc.org/en/document/2023-european-year-skills-quality-or-precarious-jobs

European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA): News, 28/10/2022: 2023 will be the EU Year of Skills https://eaea.org/2022/10/28/2023-will-be-the-eu-year-of-skills/

EPRS: At a Glance, November 2022: Proposal to make 2023 European Year of Skills https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)739206

European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE): News, 06/12/2022: European Year of Skills 2023: views of ETUCE https://www.csee-etuce.org/en/news/education-policy/5050-european-year-of-skills-2023-views-of-etuce

European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI), 22/12/2022: European Year of Skills 2023 must be inclusive and encompassing https://www.cesi.org/posts/european-year-of-skills-2023-must-be-inclusive-and-encompassing/

Social Europe, 06/03/2023: Making the most of the European Year of Skills https://www.socialeurope.eu/making-the-most-of-the-european-year-of-skills

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News

EurActiv: Topics: European Year of Skills https://www.euractiv.com/topics/european-year-of-skills/

EurActiv, 13/10/2022: Commission adopts proposal to make 2023 the European Year of Skills https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/commission-adopts-proposal-to-make-2023-the-european-year-of-skills/

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Official

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on European Year of Skills 2023 (2022/0326(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2022/0326(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: European Year of skills 2023 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-an-economy-that-works-for-people/file-european-year-of-skills-2023

Official Website of the European Year of Skills https://year-of-skills.europa.eu/index_en

European Commission: Priorities 2019-2024: European Year of Skills 2023 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/european-year-skills-2023_en

European Commission: DG Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion: Skills and qualifications https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=1146

European Commission: News, 14/09/2022: 2022 State of the Union: "2023 will be the European year of Skills" https://digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu/en/latest/news/2022-state-union-2023-will-be-european-year-skills

European Commission: Press Release, 12/10/2022: Commission kick-starts work on the European Year of Skills https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_6086

European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (EU CEDEFOP): News, 17/10/2022: Gearing up for European Year of Skills 2023 https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/news/gearing-european-year-skills-2023

European Commission: Press Release, 07/03/2023: Commission welcomes political agreement on the European Year of Skills https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1501

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 07/03/2023: Council and Parliament pave the way for a European Year of Skills https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/03/07/council-and-parliament-pave-the-way-for-a-european-year-of-skills/

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