Debate: Quality traineeships in the EU
Date: TUESDAY, 13 JUNE 2023
Speaker: Nicolas Schmit
Language: EN

Traineeships are an important pathway for young people to enter the labour market and gain practical experience but first they need to be quality traineeships and second they cannot be for free.  Young people have been vocal about this issue, which also came out of the Conference on the Future of Europe. Many young people, you have mentioned it, have suffered from the impact of COVID-19, and many continue to suffer from the increasing cost of living. Young people deserve our respect and their commitment deserves our recognition.  In 2020, we pledged in our youth employment support package to step up EU support to increase youth employment, notably reinforcing the Youth Guarantee, which has helped over 50 million young people since 2013. This package also included a modernised European framework for vocational education and training and a renewed impetus for apprenticeships.  We need to keep working towards the EU targets set in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan of 78 % employment rates and also to reduce the rate of young people not in employment, educational training, which is currently at 11.7 %. Quality traineeships can contribute to achieving these targets and we fully agree with Parliament’s political objective to improve their quality and inclusiveness.  A recent Eurobarometer survey on traineeships showed, for example, that almost 70 % of trainees managed to find a job following their traineeship. However, there is equally room for improvement and I therefore welcome the draft resolution.  Vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities, should have equal opportunities in doing a traineeship, regardless of their background. We also agree that trainees should be treated fairly for the work that they do, and we cannot allow, under no circumstances, that traineeships are misused to replace regular jobs, and very often not paid.  This is why in the follow up on the Year of Youth, and as part of the Year of Skills, the 2023 Commission work programme includes an initiative to update the current quality framework for traineeships. The Commission work programme is also clear in stating that we want to address issues like fair remuneration and social protection.  I thank the Parliament for its valuable contribution, in particular for the additional quality principles both regarding the social rights of trainees and the learning content of traineeships. I also take note of the European Parliament’s request for legislative action.  I confirm that in line with the commitment by President von der Leyen, the Commission will respond with a legislative act in full respect of the proportionality, subsidiarity and better law-making principles. In doing so, we will of course, consult the European social partners who may decide to engage negotiations and that act by means of agreements.  The Commission will do its utmost to take into account the elements raised in the resolution, while fully respecting – we are obliged to do so – legal boundaries set by the Treaties. We will also ensure not to weaken the existing legal acquis; the draft motion and its annexes currently contain elements which indeed require an in-depth analysis.  We will also take into account the impacts on small- and medium-sized enterprises. The report calls for revision of the equality acquis here. We strongly believe that independent and empowered equality bodies will strengthen the effectiveness and enforcement of the Employment Equality Directive.  We will uphold our commitments made in 22 European Year of Youth and the European Year of Skills and in the Conference on the Future of Europe. And we will uphold our commitment to you to respond to every legislative own initiative report.  We need to put in place the necessary policy, regulatory and financial measures to provide young people with the opportunities and instruments they need to succeed in their life. Their talents and innovation capacity cannot be used for free. This is also an issue for social responsibility of companies.  Investing in young people is key to build a strong human capital and to ensure the prosperity, fairness and competitiveness of the European Union. We all share the objective of empowering our young generation. Let me again express my sincere gratitude for your valuable report.