Swedish presidency seminar

The skills transition – Pathways to a socially fair and competitive Europe

A high-level seminar organised by the Swedish Trade Unions in cooperation with the Swedish EU Presidency and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.

Date:           16th February 2023
Time:           09.30-12.00 (followed by walking lunch)
Location:     Permanent Representation of Sweden to the European Union, Square de Meeûs 30, 1000 Brussels

We would like to invite you to a high-level seminar about the skills transition and pathways to a socially fair and competitive Europe. The digital and green transitions are reshaping our labour markets in a dramatic way. Europe is facing urgent upskilling and reskilling needs to match the new jobs that are being created. Nobody should be left behind. The seminar aims to highlight the shared responsibility of the national social partners and the Member States governments in ensuring skills pathways to a socially fair and competitive Europe.
It is a contribution to the important EU-level discussions during the European Year of Skills 2023 and an input to the agenda of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Please find all the event details below including a draft programme. We kindly ask you to note that this invitation is personal. We’re looking forward to your participation and contribution.

Therese Guovelin, First-Vice President, The Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO)
Therese Svanström, President, The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (TCO)
Göran Arrius, President, The Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (Saco)

DRAFT PROGRAMME

09.30 Coffee

10.00 Start of the seminar: Welcome by the Swedish EU Presidency
Torbjörn Haak (tbc), ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative

10.05 Introduction by moderator
Carl-Albert Hjelmborn, Director, Brussels Office of the Swedish Trade Unions

10.10 The skills transition – challenges and opportunities for Europe
Therese Guovelin, First-Vice President, Swedish Trade Unions Confederation
Mattias Dahl, Deputy Director General, The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise

10.30 The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Johan Pehrson, Minister for Employment and Integration, Swedish Government

10.40 The European Year of Skills 2023
Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, European Commission

10.50 The need for upskilling and reskilling in Europe – figures and facts
CEDEFOP (speaker to be confirmed)

11.10 Panel discussion: Pathways to a socially fair and competitive Europe
Esther Lynch, Secretary General, The European Trade Union Confederation
Markus Beyrer, Director General, BusinessEurope
Ilan de Basso, Member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, European Commission
(Other panellists to be confirmed)

11.50 Wrap up
Therese Svanström, President, The European Confederation of Professional Employees (TCO)