Budva

Regional dialogue in Western Balkans facilitated by ETF Torino Process findings

Regional dialogue in the Western Balkans within the regional project Employment and Social Affairs Platform, organised under the European Union’s Instrument for Pre-Accession took place in Budva, Montenegro on 17 September.

ETF facilitated discussions at the event through presentation of its study findings on skills relevance for the labour market, employability, and transition from school to work emerging from the recent round of the Torino Process.

Representatives from Ministries for Labour and Public Employment Services from all six countries attended, together with the European Commission’s Directorate for Employment, and the Regional Initiative for Roma Integration. The event was implemented by the Regional Cooperation Council and the International Labour Organization.

Background

Combatting long-term unemployment, youth joblessness, undeclared work and ensuring effective employment activation policies are high priority for countries of the region. Skills development is needed to unleash the potential of jobseekers and young graduates to access and develop within the labour market. It is a vital component of effective policy responses to the challenges of a dynamic labour market and social environment.

The Torino Process report (soon to be published) for South Eastern Europe and Turkey urges robust investment in upskilling and reskilling of adults. In addition, improvement in quality assurance of continuous training, resourced career guidance and support services for graduate jobseekers, and more forward looking education and employment policies based on medium to longer term projection of skills demand and supply are needed.

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