The annual speech of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, focused this year also on skills. The President proposed to make 2023 the “European Year of Skills”. This will mean many new opportunities to improve the digital skills of Europeans and further investments in education and upskilling.
On 14 September 2022, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, delivered her third State of the Union Address (SOTEU) before the Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Once again, President von der Leyen highlighted the shortage of skills in Europe, which must finally be overcome with a major effort to be implemented immediately. “We need much more focus in our investment on professional education and upskilling.”, said von der Leyen, “but we also have to attract the right skills to our continent, skills that help companies and strengthen Europe’s growth.”
The lack of staff is a challenge for Europe’s companies. We must invest much more in training and further education. This is why I am proposing to make 2023 the European Year of Skills.
2023: the European Year of Skills
With a clear statement, President von der Leyen announced that next year will be the year of Skills in the EU. Many opportunities and initiatives will arise with a much stronger focus and investment on education, upskilling and digital skills for every citizen, in continuing the effort to achieve the goals set out in the Digital Decade: 80% of Europeans with basic digital skills and 20 million ICT specialists by 2030.
