Position on the upcoming proposal for a Council Recommendation on a Just Green transition

Executive Summary

• SGI Europe fully endorses the ambition of the European Commission to make the European Green Deal the "new growth strategy" and its ultimate aim to turn the EU into a fair society with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy decoupled from resource use. Services of general interest (SGIs) will play a central role in bringing to life this intention and need the right framework to ensure that the transition is just for the workers they employ and the citizens they serve.
• SGI Europe welcomes the upcoming proposal for a Council recommendation to proactively tackle all dimensions of a fair and just green transition whilst supporting the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. It is crucial for the proposal to:
  • include a dedicated approach putting access to SGIs and essential services (as defined in the EPSR) at the heart of the transition;
  • address a broad scope of essential services, covering all the services of Principle 20, supported by an operational definition of accessibility, affordability, availability;
  • contribute to more effective and sustainable support mechanisms to guarantee access to all essential services, to mitigate the adverse impact of the green transition, including through European funds and the sharing of best practices and mutual learning activities;
  • recommend monitoring and evaluating whether the reforms and investments undertaken in the National Recovery and Resilience Plans improve access to essential services.
• In the context of the upcoming proposal for a Council recommendation, SGI Europe calls on Member States to:
  • involve social partners in creating just transition strategies dealing with socio-economic challenges, optimise employment and competitiveness opportunities for workers and enterprises, and contribute to inclusive and fair transitions.
  • increase awareness and understanding of the employment opportunities and challenges of the green transition, facilitate knowledge and experience exchange across institutions and sectors, and promote the principles and values of sustainability across sectors and at all levels;
  • increase the attractiveness of specific occupations in essential sectors of the green transition through raising the image and visibility of VET education and through communication campaigns about occupational opportunities and career prospects in essential services;
  • improve skills and employment intelligence, especially at local and regional levels, through better cooperation between public authorities, employers, education and training providers, and public employment services;
  • continue efforts of making VET become the first choice by raising its profile and visibility in other policy areas and integrating VET in the EU agendas on regional development, innovation and industry;
  • intensify technical assistance offered to the Member States to address the lack of awareness and understanding opportunities on EU funding;
  • improve the training offer to inactive, unemployed, and NEETs, and provide quality and inclusive guidance and counselling services;
  • involve social partners in modernising education and training curricula, reforming skills and employment strategies, and strengthening job creation within the greening transition.