The European Commission has launched a Pact for Skills (PACT OF SKILLS) for skills development in Europe.
Businesses, workers, national, regional and local authorities, social partners, cross-industry and sectoral organisations, education and training providers, chambers of commerce and employment services all have a key role to play.
To support a fair and resilient recovery and realise the ambitions of the green and digital transition and the EU’s strategies for industry and SMEs, the Commission invites public and private organisations to join forces and take concrete action to improve and reskill people in Europe.
The Pact is the first of the flagship actions of the European Agenda for Skills and is firmly anchored in the European Pillar of Social Rights.
The Pact was officially launched on 10 November 2020.
The following are eligible to join the Pact
1. Individual companies or other private or public organisations
2. Regional or local partnerships
3. Industrial ecosystems or cross-sector partnerships
Registration links
All Covenant members subscribe to the Charter and its Key Principles, which they agree to respect and support.
The Key Principles of the Charter are :
1. To promote a culture of lifelong learning for all
2. Building strong partnerships for skills
3. Monitor demand and supply of skills and anticipate skills needs
4. Working against discrimination and for gender equality and equal opportunities
Covenant signatories are strongly encouraged to translate their commitment into concrete commitments to upgrade and retrain skills. These commitments will shape the key principles of the Covenant.
From the beginning of 2021, the Commission will support Covenant signatories through :
1. Networking hubs, including: support in partner search and initial partnership meetings;
2. linking with existing EU instruments, e.g. Europass, Skills Panorama, EURES and the European network of public employment services; promoting the activities of Covenant members.
3. Knowledge hub, including: webinars, seminars, peer learning activities; updates on EU policies and instruments; information on projects, tools and good practices
4. Guidance and resource hub, including: access to information on relevant EU funding; guidance on identifying financial opportunities; facilitation of exchanges between Covenant members and national/regional authorities.
EU funding, in particular the Recovery and Resilience Facility and related funding instruments under the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 will be instruments to finance projects and actions under the pact of skills.