Swedish EU presidency prioritises green skills and education
The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union has outlined four priorities, including security and unity, competitiveness, green and energy transitions, and democratic values and the rule of law. Carina Lindén, Deputy Director in the Division for Upper Secondary and Adult Education and Training in the Swedish Ministry for Education and Research and liaison officer between the European Training Foundation (ETF) and the Swedish Presidency, stresses that education and skills play an important role in achieving these priorities.
In the field of education, one of the priorities during the six-month Swedish Presidency is the skills needed for the green transition and for sustainable development. The green transition can only succeed if the EU has the qualified labour that’s needed.
"To ensure that everyone has the skills and competences needed to contribute to the green transition Sweden has brought forward Council conclusions on skills and competences for the green transition that was adopted by the EU education ministers on 7 March. This was an important step - reflecting a common commitment to develop education and continuing professional development for the green transition. We are very pleased that the European Council adopted conclusions on green skills and competences. This is a very important step in ensuring that Europeans have the skills they need for the green transition. We are looking forward to building on this work during our Presidency."
explains Lindén in a recent interview with the ETF.
Another key priority in the education field is to move the work on the European Education Area forward, for example regarding mutual recognition of qualifications. Automatic recognition of qualifications increases student mobility, which in turn promotes increased EU competitiveness. To achieve the European Education Area, we need to ensure that students can take full advantage of the learning opportunities in Europe. As holder of the Presidency, Sweden has therefore chosen to focus on the automatic mutual recognition of qualifications and outcomes of learning periods abroad.
The Presidency also aims to initiate the negotiations of the announced Commission proposals for Council recommendations, focusing on digital skills that will be taken forward by the Spanish presidency in the second half of 2023. Lindén also stresses the importance of the Council Recommendations in building on the results of the structured dialogue.
Many initiatives during the Swedish Presidency also link up with the European Year of Skills and one of its focus areas, matching skillsets to labour market needs. For example, the Presidency conference, Skills for the green transition – for a competitive Europe, highlighted how education can contribute to transition and upskilling and initiated a discussion on the conditions necessary for both individuals and businesses to be able to obtain the skills they need for the green transition. Both higher education and vocational and adult education and training play an imperative role in responding to the green transition by equipping people with the knowledge, skills and competences needed in the evolving labour market and society.
An overarching priority of the Swedish Presidency is also strongly committed to supporting Ukraine.
"Ukraine and backing Ukraine is really a top priority for us," said Lindén. "We want to ensure that Ukraine has the support it needs to develop its economy and to ensure stability in the region."
The Swedish Presidency began on 1 January 2023 and will run until 30 June 2023.