On the 24 and 25 June 2021, the 15th PES Network Board meeting took place, again in a virtual format. The pandemic situation did not allow the PES Board members to accept the invitation of the Portuguese Presidency to meet in Lisbon, therefore an online meeting was organised. The agenda of the 2 days meeting was fully packed with interesting topics.
In accordance with the Presidency’s slogan ‘Time to deliver: a fair, green and digital recovery’ the PES Board was dedicated to the recovery of the European labour markets.
The meeting started with an exchange with representatives of the European Social Partners. BusinessEurope, ETUC, SGI Europe and SMEUnited joined the meeting to discuss recovery measures and the effects of the green transition on the labour markets. The PES Board members highlighted the value added of cooperation between PES and Social Partners at EU and at national level and decided to foster the exchange at European level. A new PES Network study ‘Greening of the labour markets – impact for the Public Employment Services’, which will be soon available in the PES Network’s knowledge centre, served as a good basis for a fruitful exchange among Board members on the role of PES for a green transition. This topic will certainly stay on the Network’s agenda!
In the afternoon if day one, the Board endorsed the new PES Network strategy. This strategy reflects the impacts of the pandemic and the new updated mandate of the PES Network. The strategy will be soon available.
Day 1 was concluded with the election of the Chair of the PES Network. The Board unanimously extended Johannes Kopf’s mandate as Chair for another two years. Congratulations!
Day 2 started with an overview of the Portuguese labour market presented by Deputy Minister for Labour and Vocational training Mr Miguel Cabrita. Ms Lucilla Sioli, Director for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Industry at the European Commission presented the ‘Proposal for a Regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence’. The Board meeting finished with a marketplace on new PES measures and an exchange on recent recovery measures.
We thank our Portuguese colleagues for the organisation of this Board meeting. We are looking forward to seeing you at the next Board meeting in December in Ljubljana.
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