'Investing in skills in Europe's regions and cities'

The European Committee of the Regions, in partnership with the European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), organised an event on 25 April, as part of the European Year of Skills, on strengthening regional and urban skills in Europe to promote sustainable growth and social cohesion.

During the event, entitled 'Investing in skills in Europe's regions and cities', local leaders and key stakeholders discussed the crucial role of skills development, including through upgrading skills levels and retraining, in strengthening the socio-economic fabric of Europe's regions and cities.

The conference focused on the critical need for adaptive skills development strategies in response to rapid technological and socio-economic change, to enhance labour market adaptability and strengthen regional economic development. Key discussions addressed the importance of improving skills levels and retraining, skills analysis tools, better vocational education and training strategies, and the importance of public-private partnerships to support local and regional skills development.

Also held on 26 April was the meeting of the SEDEC Commission, the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture, of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), a European Union body made up of representatives of local and regional authorities from the 28 Member States. Among the topics on the agenda, the meeting also included a presentation by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) on the annual indicators on the number of women in parliaments. In 2023, in political assemblies across the EU, women represented 36 % of members at regional level and 35 % at local/municipal level. The percentage of women in the European Parliament has increased over the years, currently reaching 40 %. National parliaments lag behind, with one in three MEPs being a woman across the EU.

Source and photos: European Committee of the Regions