EU Policymakers · ATLAS
Katia BERTI
European Commission · Head of Unit · EMPL
What Katia BERTI has said (3)
- “Uh, that we we brought in also further, uh, elements related to the green and digital transitions and the skills related to this, uh, including in relation to strengthening Stem skills, uh, in view, of course, of the green transition, but also population aging. Uh, the second year of implementation of the social convergence framework was also reflected in the recitals. Uh, now, as you know, the social convergence framework is fully embedded in the new EU economic governance framework and brings into it a further attention, a focus on upward social convergence in the union. And then, of course, new policy initiatives such as the Union of Skills and the Competitiveness Compass were also reflected in the recitals. Next steps. As you know, um, opinions by the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the regions, uh, discussions uh, in the social questions, working party of the Council on the recitals and the proposed changes, uh, the final adoption, after all this process is, is expected in the Epsco Council in October or November to be to be confirmed, of course, by the council. So I hope this was useful and I'm ready to answer any questions if there are any. Thanks.”
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training · European Semester (social dimension) · Youth employment & training
- “Uh, so member states, uh, are expected to take the employment guidelines into account in their economic, employment and social policies and provide the Council and the Commission with an annual report on the key measures that they take to implement their policies in these in these areas. Um, in 2024, back in time, when we did the full update of the guidelines, we brought in very important innovations. Uh, basically, there was a call on member states to make progress on reaching the 2030 national targets on employment, skills and poverty reduction on top of the EU. Of course, the EU level targets. There was a call to take action on tackling skills and labour shortages. Uh, very importantly, uh, including in sectors like healthcare, long term care, but also education, ICT, uh, and so forth. Um, we also brought in, uh, more focus on the importance of addressing changes in the world of work induced by digitalisation, including the uptake of new technologies, algorithmic, uh, management, artificial intelligence. And finally, we also stressed more the need to tackle the high costs of living and strengthening social dialogue in line. Also with the 2023 council recommendation on this matter. So all these elements are, of course, still in the guidelines proper that are proposed for reconstruction, uh, this year, uh, and uh, the only changes that were made were made in the recitals to reflect better the geopolitical context, including, of course, the trade tensions and the need to increase defense spending.”
European Semester (social dimension) · Youth employment & training
- “Good morning. Good morning everyone. I hope you hear me well, and apologies for the delay on our side. Um, okay. So just maybe to start with a little, uh, recalling of the process in relation to the employment guidelines, which is very important because, as you know, this is not precisely the same every year. Um, so as part of the last, uh, semester spring package last June, uh, the commission put forward a proposal for what we call a carryover or a reconstruction of the employment guidelines, which basically means that we are not proposing to touch the guidelines proper, but we are proposing just a targeted update of the recitals of this legal document. As you know, the employment guidelines are basically the document that sets, uh, the remit of the country specific recommendations that will follow then, uh, in in the next cycle, addressed to member states in the area of employment, skills, education and social uh, matters. Uh, now, why we propose a reconstruction rather than a full update of the guidelines. This is because, as you know, the treaty requires an update every year of this document, but the practice that has been very well established by now is that basically a full update is conducted only every two years. And this was basically the intermediate year in which we generally based on this well-established practice, we only do a targeted update, but we don't touch, as I say, the guidelines proper.”
European Semester (social dimension) · Youth employment & training · EU competences on social policies