EC presents Skills and Talent Mobility package

On 15 November 2023, the European Commission (EC) presented a series of new initiatives in a Skills and Talent Mobility package to make the EU more attractive to talent from outside EU, and to facilitate mobility within. The package includes a new EU Talent Pool to match employers in the EU with jobseekers in third countries as well as measures to promote the recognition of qualifications and learner's mobility.  They come as key deliverables of the European Year of Skills.

The following initiatives are aimed at supporting Member States in the global race for talent:

• The EU Talent Pool: aims at facilitating the recruitment of jobseekers from non-EU countries in EU-wide shortage occupations. It is an innovative measure, the first EU platform of this type, making international recruitment easier and faster. Participation in the EU Talent Pool will be voluntary for Member States, who will support the management of the platform. It will also provide information on recruitment and migration procedures in the Member States and includes strong safeguards to ensure fair recruitment and working conditions.
• Talent Partnerships: will additionally be supported by the EU Talent Pool. Talent Partnerships are tailor-made partnerships with non-EU countries, providing mobility for work or training. Jobseekers who have developed their skills under a Talent Partnership will receive a Talent Partnership Pass, visible to the participating employers, that certifies their qualifications. The opportunities for legal migration can be expected to disincentivise irregular migration and must go hand in hand with strengthened cooperation on readmission cooperation.  
• Easier and faster recognition of qualifications gained in third countries: is a key enabler for employers seeking skilled workers, and for third country nationals seeking access to the EU jobs' market, as well as their integration into host societies. The aim is to develop the capacity of national recognition authorities to simplify and expedite procedures by improving comparability of third country qualifications and of how to assess jobseekers' skills.
• ‘Europe on the move – learning mobility opportunities for everyone' is an EC proposal for a Council Recommendation and aims to boost mobility in all areas of education and training. It invites Member States to make learning mobility within the EU an integral part of all education and training pathways, from school education and vocational education and training, notably apprenticeships, to higher and adult education and youth exchanges. The Commission proposes to set new ambitious goals for 2030: increasing the share of mobility experience to at least 25% for higher education graduates, at least 20% for learners with fewer opportunities, and at least 15% for vocational learners. The proposal includes a commitment by the Commission to monitor and support Member States in developing national action plans for the concrete implementation of the goals.

The Commission's proposal for an EU Talent Pool will now be negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council. The Commission will support Member States' implementation of the Recommendation on recognition of qualifications of third country nationals, and invite them to report on national initiatives, reforms, good practices and statistics. The Recommendation ‘Europe on the Move' will be submitted to the Council for its consideration and adoption.

For more information:

EC - press release

Factsheet

Communication on skills and talent mobility

Proposal for a Regulation on the establishment of an EU Talent Pool

Recommendation on recognition of third country nationals qualifications

Proposal for a Council Recommendation 'Europe on the Move' - learning mobility for everyone