European Trade Union Confederation

74 federations in 38 states

The interlocutor for workers at European level

European Demography

Some 33 million people in the European Union are not in active employment.

Europe's workforce is ageing, and 32% of the working age population (78 million) is low skilled.

In contrast, over the next five years, only 15% of newly created jobs will be for people with basic schooling,

At the same time 50% of newly created jobs will require highly skilled workers.

Member States are in charge of their education systems…

…the European Commission has a supporting, fostering role

Over-arching EU policy goal: The Lisbon Strategy

“The Union must become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world.”

Lisbon, March 2000

2005 re-launch: “EU to become an advanced knowledge society with sustainable development, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.”

The EU is working towards Lisbon …

Policy work with Member states

LLP programme - subsidies

Framework of Qualifications

• Introduced in 2000

• Mirrored the competency of the Commission

Lifelong learning for social cohesion and

competitiveness Implement the social partner Framework of actions for the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications with a regular follow-up

Ensure that lifelong learning strategies are supported and pursued in the sectoral social dialogue and through collective agreements;

Promote the inclusion of older workers, low-

income earners, early school leavers and those with low levels of qualifications atypical workers and women in lifelong learning measures;

•national goals to diminish the enormous numbers of employed and unemployed workers without minimum educational qualifications in every member state of the EU;

•national targets to reduce the number of people leaving school without basic education qualifications;

•genuine recognition of prior learning formal qualifications and diplomas and informal competences;

•access to qualified education and training, at universities and colleges, responds to the demands of both young people and adults seeking further training.

Practical Work and Achievements

• Commissions Working Groups with national representatives and stake holders

• Conferences organised by Presidencies• No legislation• Resolutions Education Council

Social partners involvement• In working groups• In conferences

2004the Agricultural sector Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the European Union organised a seminar for the following up of the implementation of the agreement[1] that was signed in 2002 on the different countries (EU 15 with exception of Luxembourg), including information’s related to financing of vocational training on the different countries.

Social partners organisations in Electricity sector delivered a joint statement about future skills on sector. According to main conclusions of research, electricity industry faces a looming skills deficit in the context of a decline in technical and technological essential employment-craft and engineering- and a shortfall in meeting demands for new skills on the future. These demands are based on the areas of Sales, Trading, Commercial activities and Customer Oriented skills.

The chemical sector signed a Joint position on VET and VCT in sector by key European stakeholders focussing on forecast of skills needs related to the accelerated and permanent technological changes in workplaces and organisation of the working processes, as a main domains to improve competences. Social partners in hotel, restaurants and catering sector signed an initiative which underlines skills and training needs in the sector. [1] Agreement can be consult on: http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_dialogue/docs/010_20021205_agriculture_en.pdf

2005The main European stakeholders in civil aviation sector, delivered a Joint

statement on Quality, Safety and Training in the ground handling sector concerning quality of the service in the context of the opening up of the market. This statement is a very good practice of social dialogue focussing on sectoral changes and matching the need of developing training on quality and safety at

work in the ground handling sector. Sectoral social partners on personal services sector developed a accurate as results of a symposium. This declaration detected key areas for performing as

regards of training needs in sector. Important point is that social partners set up a common strategy for meeting the challenges of the European hairdressing

certificate. The European Community Ship-owners’ Association and European Transport

Workers' Federation promoted a very successful joint practice delivering a study report on mapping of career paths in the maritime industries.

Market failure

Left to itself, a free market in training will ignore the less

skilled

Those who already have most will receive most

A partnership approach

• Ireland 20% unemployment in 1987 to 4% today ; LTU eliminated

• OECD identified partnership structures as key to this achievement

• Need to mobilise multiple actors

Europe a coalition of states

• Most of what is important in the European Community takes place in the member states…its in their competence.

• Co operation is voluntary but is systemic.

• How do you scan 25/27 labour markets?• Cedefop