Article 1 Subject matter
The period from 9 May 2023 to 8 May 2024 shall be designated as the ‘European Year of Skills’.
Article 2 Objectives
In line with Principle Nos 1, 4 and 5 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, contributing to the objectives set out in the European Skills Agenda and the Union headline targets set by the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the overall objective of the European Year of Skills shall be to further promote a mindset of reskilling and upskilling in accordance with national competences, law and practice. By further promoting the mindset of reskilling and upskilling, the European Year of Skills shall aim to boost the competitiveness of Union undertakings, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and to contribute to the creation of quality jobs, with a view to realising the full potential of the green and digital transitions in a socially fair, inclusive and just manner, thereby promoting equal access to skills development and reducing inequalities and segregation in education and training and contributing to continuous learning and career progression, empowering people to access quality jobs and to fully participate in the economy and society. More specifically, the activities of the European Year of Skills shall promote skills policies and investments to ensure that nobody is left behind in the green and digital transitions and the economic recovery and, in particular, to address labour shortages by closing gaps and skills mismatches for an empowered workforce and society, able to seize the opportunities of the green and digital transitions, by: (1) promoting increased, more effective and inclusive investment at all levels, inter alia, by public and private employers, in particular by SMEs, into all forms of reskilling and upskilling, education and training to harness the full potential of the current and future workforce in the Union, including to support people in managing job-to-job transitions, active ageing , and benefiting from the new opportunities brought by the ongoing economic transition; (2) strengthening skills relevance and provision by closely cooperating with, and promoting cooperation among, cross-sectoral and sectoral social partners, public and private employment services, undertakings, civil society entities, not-for-profit social service providers and education and training providers, and by developing joined-up approaches with all branches of government at Union, national, regional and local level and by facilitating the recognition of skills and qualifications; (3) matching people’s aspirations, needs and skills-set, including the skills acquired during mobility, with labour market needs and opportunities, especially those offered by the green and digital transitions, emerging new sectors and core sectors in need of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that a particular focus is given to integrate more people in the labour market, in particular women and young people, especially those not in employment, education, or training (NEETs), low-skilled persons, older workers, persons with disabilities, people from disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds, people living in remote areas and in the outermost regions, as well as displaced people from Ukraine; (4) attracting people from third countries with the skills needed in Member States, by promoting learning opportunities, including, where necessary, language education and training, skills development and mobility, and by facilitating the recognition of qualifications.
Article 3 Types of measure
1. The types of measure to be taken to achieve the objectives set out in Article 2 shall include activities at Union level and, building on existing possibilities, at national, regional or local level, where relevant in cooperation with third countries, such as: (a) online and in-person conferences, forum discussions and further events to promote the debate on the role and contribution of skills policies to achieve competitive and sustainable economic growth in light of the demographic change, the green and digital transitions, thereby also supporting an active and engaged citizenship, and to mobilise relevant stakeholders to ensure that access to education, training and learning opportunities is a reality on the ground; (b) working groups, technical meetings and other 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 practices, guidelines and other supporting documents deriving from those events; (c) initiatives targeting, inter alia, individuals, employers, in particular SMEs, chambers of commerce and industry, the social partners, public authorities, education and training providers to promote the provision, financing and uptake of reskilling and upskilling opportunities and to maximise the benefits and potential of a skilled workforce; (d) information, comprehensive communication and awareness-raising campaigns on Union initiatives for reskilling and upskilling and continuous learning, promoting the implementation and delivery of such initiatives on the ground and their uptake by potential beneficiaries; (e) increasing dialogue with the social partners and existing stakeholder groups and networks, including through established online platforms at national, regional and local level and ensuring stakeholder engagement opportunities linked to the European Year of Skills; (f) promoting the design of national, sectoral and company-specific skills strategies and training, including through social dialogue and the involvement of the social partners; (g) 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 COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis and the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; (h) promoting and continuing the implementation of tools and instruments for the increased transparency of qualifications, including qualifications awarded outside the Union, and for the validation of non-formal and informal learning; (i) 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 reskilling and upskilling opportunities, learning and VET. 2. The Commission may identify other activities that could contribute to the objectives set out in Article 2 and allow references to the European Year of Skills to be used in promoting those activities insofar 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 of Skills at national and regional level shall be a responsibility of the Member States. To that end, each Member State shall designate a national coordinator or coordinating body, in line with national circumstances and practices, with competence in the field of labour policies and skills. The national coordinator or coordinating body shall be the contact point for cooperation at Union level and shall coordinate, in a holistic manner, the activities of the European Year of Skills in the respective Member States, enabling the involvement of relevant stakeholders.
Article 5 Coordination at Union level
1. The coordination of the European Year of Skills 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 of Skills, in particular the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, the European Labour Authority, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, the European Training Foundation and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity. 3. The Commission shall convene meetings of the national coordinators or representatives of the coordinating bodies in order to coordinate the activities referred to in Article 3. Those meetings shall serve as opportunities to exchange information regarding the implementation of the European Year of Skills at Union and national level. Representatives of the European Parliament and relevant Union agencies may participate in those meetings as observers. 4. The Commission shall closely engage with the social partners, civil society, education and training providers, labour market bodies, learners, and representatives of organisations or bodies active in the field of skills, education, training and continuous learning, in order to assist in the implementation of the European Year of Skills at Union level.
Article 6 Cooperation at international level
For the purpose of the European Year of Skills, the Commission shall, where necessary, cooperate with third countries and competent international organisations, in particular with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Labour Organization, as well as with other international stakeholders, while ensuring the visibility of the Union’s participation.
Article 7 Monitoring and evaluation
By 31 May 2025, 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 and implemented in the Member States and across the Union as a whole. That report shall include ideas for further common endeavours in the field of skills in order to create a long-lasting legacy of the European Year of Skills.
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 .