Activities of Elżbieta RAFALSKA related to 2022/0326(COD)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Year of Skills 2023
Amendments (12)
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) The European Union recognizes the significant role of family businesses in the EU economy and promotes the creation of a favourable environment where they can grow and develop. The EU encourages national governments to support entrepreneurial education. Apart from entrepreneurial education, one of the main challenges faced by family businesses is attracting and retaining a skilled workforce. Family businesses make up more than 60% of all companies in Europe, ranging from un-listed, small sole proprietors to large international enterprises.
Amendment 58 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Low skills of working-age adults remain a significant challenge for the Union, pointing to considerable untapped potential of upskilling and reskilling to help mitigate increasing labour shortages in sectors such as manufacturing and services, and in particular in economic activities related to hospitality and manufacturing of computer and electronic equipment, and the care sector.25 However, participation in adult learning in the Union has stagnated over the last decade and 21 Member States fell short of the 2020 EU-level target. For many adults, such as those in atypical forms of work, older workers, employees of small and medium-sized enterprises, the unemployed, the inactive and the low- qualified, skills development opportunities are too often out of reach. Increasing the lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling opportunities for these groups, and all working-age adults, also contributes to reaching the EU employment target of 78%, with employment rate in the EU in 2021 being at 73.1%.26 _________________ 25 European Commission, 2021 Labour Market and Wage Developments in Europe, p. 26 26 Eurostat, Employment (as % of the population aged 20 to 64), (LFSI_EMP_A)
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) A major problem of the economy is the mismatch between the competences possessed by employees and the requirements of the modern labour market. Therefore, the adaptation of curricula to the competences and skills expected by the labour market is the main challenge for the education systems. The Council Recommendation on vocational education and training (VET)38 supports modernisation of VET systems to equip young people and adults with the knowledge, skills and competences they need to thrive in the evolving labour market and society, to manage the recovery and the just transitions to the green and digital economy, in times of demographic change and throughout all economic cycles. It promotes VET as a driver for innovation and growth, which is agile in adapting to labour market changes and providing skills for occupations in high demand. _________________ 38 Council Recommendation of 24 November 2020 on vocational education and training (VET) for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience (OJ C 417 2.12.2020, p. 1)
Amendment 109 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13a) The Digital Volunteers Pilot Programme supports European SMEs in their digital transformation journey by growing their employees' digital competences, owing to the collaboration with skilled mentors from larger businesses and enables young qualified people and experienced senior citizens to share their digital skills with traditional businesses. With the demographic change, further development of volunteering and mentoring to transfer knowledge between generations in order to counteract social exclusion, allow the sharing of skills and experience, encourage the upgrading of the skills of younger and older workers and preserve traditional crafts as part of Europe’s heritage is of utmost importance.
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Skills for the green transition and the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce will be needed in the context of the shift to a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, as laid out under the European Green Deal39 setting the path towards EU climate neutrality by 2050. The Commission Communication “Fit for 55”40 recognises that the green transition can only succeed if the Union has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive and points to the flagship actions of the Skills Agenda to equip people with the skills that are needed for the green and digital transitions. _________________ 39 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - The European Green Deal (COM/2019/640 final) 40 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – Fit for 55: delivering the EU's 2030 Climate Target on the way to climate neutrality (COM(2021) 550 final)
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In Europe, more than 90% of professional roles require a basic level of digital knowledge, just as they require basic literacy and numeracy skills. The use of digital tools is spreading across all sectors from business to transport and even to farming. However, around 42% of Europeans lack basic digital skills, including 37% of those in the workforce1c. The Digital Decade Policy Programme 203041 reiterates the objective of ensuring that at least 80% of the EU population have at least basic digital skills by 2030, and sets the target of 20 million employed ICT specialists, with the aim of achieving gender convergence, by 2030, also by creating a cooperation framework between the Member States and the Commission. The Digital Decade42 stresses the lack of capacity of specialised education and training programmes to train additional ICT experts. The Digital Education Action Plan 2021-202743 emphasises that technological means should be used to ease accessibility and strengthen flexibility of learning opportunities, including upskilling and reskilling. _________________ 1c European Commission, Shaping Europe’s Digital Future 41 Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the 2030 Policy Programme “Path to the Digital Decade” (COM/2021/574 final) 42 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the regions; 2030 Digital Compass: the European way for the Digital Decade (COM (2021)118 final) 43 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the Digital Education Action Plan (COM/2018/022 final)
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Attracting skilled third-country nationals can contribute to tackling the Union’s skills and labour shortages. The demographic change and other societal and economic factors are gradually bringing about qualitative shortages on the labour market, making it hard to find suitably qualified workers, and, as demographic trends become increasingly unfavourable with an expected rise of old- age dependency ratio to increase from 29.6 % in 2016 to 51.2 % in 20701b, there are also quantitative shortages in particular in strategic areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technologies(ICTs) as well as a general shortfall in the number of people who are willing and able to take up employment in specific sectors, including the care sector, the construction industry, the agricultural sector and the domestic sector. In October 2021, the revised EU Blue Card Directive45 entered into force, a key achievement for attracting highly skilled talent into the labour market. The New Pact on Migration and Asylum46 also places a strong emphasis on labour migration and on integration of third country nationals. Against this background, the Commission adopted a Skills and Talent Package47 in April 2022 to reinforce the legal framework and Union action in this area. Proposals to recast the Long- Term Residents Directive and the Single Permit Directive will allow to simplify the procedures for the admission of workers of all skill levels to the Union. The Commission will also continue to roll out an EU Talent Pool to facilitate labour matching with non-EU nationals. The Commission is also working towards the launch of tailor-made Talent Partnerships with specific key partner countries to boost international labour mobility and development of talent in a mutually beneficial and circular way. In addition, the Union continues to be the leading contributor to global funding for education focusing especially on teacher training, girls education and vocational education and training. This work, under the umbrella of the Global Gateway strategy48 , is complementary to the objectives of this proposal. _________________ 1b European Commission (2018). The 2018 Ageing Report: economic and budgetary projects for the 28 EU Member States (2016-2070) 45 Directive (EU) 2021/1883 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2021 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of highly qualified employment, and repealing Council Directive 2009/50/EC (OJ L 382, 28.10.2021, p. 1) 46 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a New Pact on Migration and Asylum (COM/2020/609 final) 47 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Attracting skills and talent to the EU (COM/2022/657 final) 48 Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank The Global Gateway (JOIN/2021/30 final)
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Attracting skilled third-country nationals can contribute to tackling the Union’s skills and labour shortages. In October 2021, the revised EU Blue Card Directive45 entered into force, a key achievement for attracting highly skilled talent into the labour market. The New Pact on Migration and Asylum46 also places a strong emphasis on labour migration and on integration of third country nationals. Against this background, the Commission adopted a Skills and Talent Package47 in April 2022 to reinforce the legal framework and Union action in this area. Proposals to recast the Long- Term Residents Directive and the Single Permit Directive will allow to simplify the procedures for the admission of workers of all skill levels to the Union. The Commission will also continue to roll out an EU Talent Pool to facilitate labour matching with non-EU nationals which is of particular importance in the context of the Ukrainian war refugees seeking employment in the EU Member States. The Commission is also working towards the launch of tailor-made Talent Partnerships with specific key partner countries to boost international labour mobility and development of talent in a mutually beneficial and circular way. In addition, the Union continues to be the leading contributor to global funding for education focusing especially on teacher training, girls education and vocational education and training. This work, under the umbrella of the Global Gateway strategy48 , is complementary to the objectives of this proposal. _________________ 45 Directive (EU) 2021/1883 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2021 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of highly qualified employment, and repealing Council Directive 2009/50/EC (OJ L 382, 28.10.2021, p. 1) 46 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a New Pact on Migration and Asylum (COM/2020/609 final) 47 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Attracting skills and talent to the EU (COM/2022/657 final) 48 Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank The Global Gateway (JOIN/2021/30 final)
Amendment 143 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18a) Skills are the foundation of modern life and therefore their development has to be further encouraged by the initiatives such as EuroSkills competitions which have an important impact on the positive image of VET systems, promotion of new jobs and new skills, attracting young people to choose the career in VET, changing VET systems into the modern economy and boosting cooperation between education and employers and labour market.
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
(19a) Basic digital skills are essential for most employees and employers and their importance is expected to increase further. ICT literacy has become one of the prerequisites for building a knowledge-based society and an essential part of lifelong learning. Enterprises must dedicate a significant proportion of their resources to ensure that their employees are able to work with the latest technologies and in the new organisational environments associated with them. Therefore, the role of workplace education is essential for the future of work.
Amendment 169 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
In line with principles 1, 4 and 5 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, contributing to the objectives set out in the 2020 European Skills Agenda and the EU headline targets set by the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the overall objective of the European Year shall be to further promote a mindset of reskilling and upskilling thereby boosting competitiveness of European companies, in particular small and medium-sized entreprises, realising the full potential of the digital and green transitions in a socially fair, inclusive and just manner. More specifically, the activities of the Year will promote skills policies and investments to ensure that nobody is left behind in the twin transition and the economic recovery, and to notably address labour shortages and skills mismatches for a better skilled workforce in the Union that is able to seize the opportunities of this process, by:
Amendment 221 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) information, communication and awareness-raising campaigns on EU initiatives for lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling, promoting their implementation and delivery on the ground and also their uptake by potential beneficiaries;