Episode 16: European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas on the European Year of Skills
Skillset and match
Cedefop
0.0 • 0 Ratings
🗓️ 9 May 2023
⏱️ 27 minutes
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Summary
In an exclusive interview, European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas shares his views on skills, on what the Commission does to promote them and on how people can benefit from the European Year of Skills, which has just started. He recognises that skills shortages pose a big problem for the European labour market, and he sees the Year as a way of giving back to young Europeans who suffered during the pandemic 'opportunities in education, training, mobility and in the job market.' Mr Schinas argues that 'we have the political will, we have the regulatory framework, we have unprecedented resources, and we are now building the necessary synergies and awareness to make this Year work at all levels,' adding that 'we never had so much money for skills in the EU'. He also calls for a 'de-Brusselisation' of the initiative: 'Taking the Year out of Brussels would help immensely with its success.'
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to the SEDEFO Podcast Skillset and Match. |
| 0:15.9 | I'm Rosie Vooduri and I'm delighted to having the S Sedefob studio with me European Commission Vice President |
| 0:22.1 | for promoting our European way of life, Margariti Shinash, to talk about the European Year of Skills, |
| 0:28.7 | which starts today. Mr. Shinas has served in the European institutions for many years in various |
| 0:34.6 | capacities, including as an MEP, Deputy Director General of DG Communication |
| 0:40.0 | and Chief Spokesperson of the Commission. |
| 0:43.2 | Few people know the institutions and Europe's aspirations, problems and required solutions, |
| 0:48.7 | as well as he does. |
| 0:50.4 | His portfolio includes, among others, the coordination of the European Skills Agenda, making |
| 0:55.8 | education more accessible and inclusive, encouraging lifelong learning, re-skilling and cross-border |
| 1:02.1 | learning. |
| 1:03.5 | That makes him the perfect guest for a discussion on the European Year of Skills. |
| 1:08.2 | The year was announced in Commission President Ursula von der Leyen State |
| 1:12.2 | of the Union speech last September. And now, a few months later, it's becoming a reality. |
| 1:18.6 | Its activities are meant to help people get the right skills for quality jobs and companies, |
| 1:23.9 | in particular, small and medium enterprises to address skill shortages in the EU. |
| 1:29.7 | The initiative will showcase skills development opportunities across Europe, promote easier |
| 1:35.3 | recognition of qualifications across borders, bring organizations and people together to share |
| 1:41.5 | their experiences and insights, and set out how EU initiatives and funding |
| 1:46.6 | can help. Sedefob as the EU's agency for Skills is a partner of the European Year of Skills. |
| 1:53.8 | And together with Mr. Shinas, we'll see what all this means to the European citizens. |
| 2:02.1 | Mr. Vice President, welcome to Sedefop and thank you for making the time to give our listeners your take on skills and what they mean to Europe. |
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