The Pact for Skills initiative was officially launched by the European Commission on 10 November 2020. The Pact for Skills is a shared engagement model, which aims to structure and organise skills development across Europe.The initiative brings together a wide range of stakeholders on European, national, regional and local level, including: government authorities, public institutions, employment services, education and training providers, researchers and academia, social partners, private companies, chambers of commerce and various cross-sectoral organisations from EU industries.
Through this shared engagement model, the Pact for Skills aims to support a fair and resilient recovery and deliver on the ambitions of the green and digital transitions and of the EU Industrial and SME Strategies, the Commission invites public and private organisations to join forces and take concrete action to upskill and reskill people in Europe. The Pact is the first of the flagship actions under the European Skills Agenda and is firmly anchored in the European Pillar of Social Rights. The members of the Pact for Skills all abide by a Charter of key principles and commit to launching concrete upskilling and reskilling actions to promote the Charter’s principles.
Charter principles
- Fostering a culture that promotes lifelong learning for all.
- Building sustainable partnerships between members and stakeholders of the Pact for Skills.
- Monitoring skills supply and skills demand, including actions aiming to anticipate skills needs across the EU Member States.
- Promoting gender equality, equal opportunities for all, and launching actions against discriminatory practices.
As of 2021, the European Commission is introducing special additional services, which aim to support the members of the Pact for Skills in their respective commitments and initiatives.
Dedicated support services
- The establishment of a networking hub for members, which offers a space to find likeminded partners and meet peers, that links with other existing EU tools, such as Europass, Skills Panorama, the European Network of Public Employment Services, EURES.
- Promoting the activities of the Pack for Skills members and providing support through a Knowledge hub and various events: webinars, seminars and peer-learning activities.
- Information on projects, tools, instruments, financial mechanisms and best practices.
- Setting up a Guidance and resources hub to support access to information on relevant EU funding, guidance on potential financial avenues, and facilitating communication and exchange of information and good practices between members of the Pact for Skills and national, regional and local authorities and public services.
Funding for the Pact for Skills
The Pact for Skills will be supported via EU funding, specifically through the Recovery and Resilience Facility and aims to make full use of financial measures under the Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 2021-2027.
Roundtables with industrial ecosystems
In addition, Commissioner Schmit and Commissioner Breton are organising a series of high-level roundtables with representatives of ecosystems as per the European Union’s new Industrial Strategy. The roundtables aim to bring together representatives across industrial sectors, regional, national and local authorities, education and training providers, including providers from the vocational education and training (VET) sectors, as well as various social partners. The roundtables will further strengthen engagement within the Pact for Skills and promote the development of sustainable and digitally-skilled industrial ecosystems.
