Today, under the European Partnership for Integration, the Commission and five European Social and Economic Partners - ETUC, BusinessEurope, SGI Europe, SMEUnited and Eurochambres - renewed their commitment to integrate more effectively refugees and other migrants into the EU labour market.
In a joint statement released today, the Commission and the Social and Economic Partners reaffirm the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to facilitate an early and smooth integration into the labour market. Such an approach benefits both migrants and the host country, through targeted measures in a coordinated manner.
Support for Ukraine
Participants highlighted the need for coordinated support for people fleeing Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The Commission adopted a Recommendation on the recognition of qualifications for people fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 5 April 2022. The Commission also issued guidance for access to the labour market, vocational education and training and adult learning of people fleeing Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The guidance underlines the importance of avoiding exploitation and undeclared work with the support of the European Labour Authority. On 10 October 2022, the Commission launched an EU Talent Pool pilot initiative that seeks to help beneficiaries of temporary protection find employment and integrate in the EU labour market, taking into account the specific needs of the applicants. The signatories exchanged lessons learnt from their experiences when it comes to labour market integration to support displaced persons from Ukraine and other third-country nationals and discussed further actions and projects.
Provide equal opportunities on the EU labour market
In the run up to the 2023 European Year of Skills, the signatories agree on the need to make the assessment, recognition and validation of skills and qualifications easier. This will improve the matching of skills with vacancies. Such an approach will allow migrants and refugees to find work at the level of their qualifications and employers to make full use of migrants' potential to fill in labour shortages. Moreover, they will continue facilitating integration into the EU labour market and promoting equal opportunities, including through close cooperation on the implementation of the EU Talent Pool Pilot for beneficiaries of temporary protection. The Commission will continue to work with the Social and Economic Partners to roll out the Talent Pool and Talent Partnerships with key partner countries, with a view to improving legal pathways for third-country nationals to the EU. The signatories will work on raising awareness and sharing best practice in the use of EU funding for labour market integration. In line with the Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021-27, the Commission will support projects that foster multi-stakeholder initiatives through a call for proposals on migrant integration under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) thematic facility.
Next Steps
Starting in early 2023, the partners and the Commission will meet at least twice a year at working level, taking stock of relevant projects and other actions. They will also meet at political level as appropriate.
Background
Through the European Partnership for Integration signed on 20 December 2017, the Commission and the European Social and Economic Partners have been working together closely to support the integration of refugees and other migrants into the EU labour market. The objectives of the Partnership are to enhance the early integration of refugees into the labour market, ensure that integration benefits refugees as well as the economy and society at large, and promote a multi-stakeholder approach from the European to the national, regional and local levels.
On 7 September 2020, the partners issued a joint statement renewing the commitment under the European Partnership for Integration and setting the aim to advance the cooperation in the area of labour migration in the future.
Over the past years, the Partnership has generated a variety of tangible results. It has developed and disseminated good practices, established new cooperation structures and put people into jobs, including through various projects co-financed by the European Commission and implemented by Social and Economic Partners.
SOURCE: European Commission
