Council agreement on European Framework for Apprenticeships

At today's Employment, Social Policy and Consumers Council, Member States reached an agreement on a European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships.

On this occasion, Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, said: "I warmly welcome today's agreement by Member States on the establishment of a European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships. Since the launch of the Skills Agenda for Europe, I have made it my mission to advocate in favour of vocational education and training, including apprenticeships. […]. This new European framework will be useful for the many Member States that are introducing or upgrading their apprenticeship programmes, as it will guide the policymakers to make sure that apprenticeships indeed deliver on their potential. […] This is an important step for vocational education and training in Europe. I am looking forward to assisting the Member States in putting the agreement into practice, and hope for involvement of and cooperation with the social partners."

The proposal for a European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeship was presented by the Commission in the context of the Skills Agenda for Europe. The full statement is available here.

This morning, Ministers also discussed the 2018 European Semester country reports, the upcoming Tripartite Social Summit and the future of social Europe post-2020. Over a working dinner, Ministers will discuss the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, and more specifically the promotion of equal labour market participating for women and men.

This afternoon, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Vera Jourová, will join the meeting to discuss the gender pay gap in the context of the Pillar of Social Rights. Finally, Ministers will be briefed the Commission's social fairness package, presented on 13 March. The EPSCO meeting will be concluded by a press conference around 16:30, with Commissioner Thyssen and Bulgarian Minister for Labour and Social Policy, Mr Biser Petkov. The press conference will be web streamed here.