A European Parliament delegation visited Cedefop on 30 and 31 October to discuss the challenges and opportunities the Agency faces and to be updated on its latest work, especially in relation to the European Year of Skills (EYS).
MEPs Dennis Radtke from Germany, Loukas Fourlas from Cyprus and Stelios Kympouropoulos from Greece, all members of the Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs to which Cedefop reports, were briefed by and exchanged views on various topics with Executive Director Jürgen Siebel, senior management and experts. Topics included the Agency’s role as provider of evidence for informed European vocational education and training (VET) policy-making, its contribution to the EYS, budgetary issues and relations with the Parliament.
Cedefop work areas presented to the MEPs by experts were green and digital skills trends, artificial intelligence, future trends in VET content and delivery with a focus on microcredentials, apprenticeships, as well as career guidance and inclusion for people with disabilities.
All guests talked about the need to support Cedefop in its mission. Mr Radtke said: ‘It was very important for me as member of the EMPL Committee to hear from the staff and management of Cedefop about the challenges for the work of the Agencies. We have an interest that Agencies can carry on with high-quality work. It’s good to hear what we can do as MEPs to ensure that this takes place in the future.’
Mr Fourlas added: ‘I'm taking home the professionalism of the people who make our vision work and the specific way in which they do it. At the European Parliament, we must help this organisation to carry out its work in whatever way we can. More funding is necessary for this effort to work.’
Mr Kympouropoulos was also in agreement: ‘We need to support Cedefop and other organisations whose focus is the working environment and how we can implement good jobs, and to create a safe environment in order to do their job. We need to ask for more funds to have a proper working environment. We also need the VET theme to be combined with education on all levels, not only for young people but also for adults, because we live in an era where we must challenge ourselves every day.’
The EP delegation also visited a local public Institute of Vocational Training in Thermi to get a first-hand account of the school’s activities.
At the end of their presence in Thessaloniki, the MEPs took part in a panel discussion and Q&A session with Cedefop staff. Closing the event, Mr Siebel said that the visit was ‘mutually beneficial’ and that ‘we showed our friends from the Parliament that we can be a port of call for knowledge, for information and for data.’
