Commission welcomes political agreement on the EU Talent Pool, making the EU more attractive to skilled talent from outside the EU
The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council on the EU Talent Pool. Once in place, the EU Talent Pool will be the first EU-wide platform to facilitate international recruitment of jobseekers residing outside the EU. This is a key step in making the EU more attractive to skilled talent from outside the EU, and hence more competitive globally.
As part of the EU's comprehensive approach to migration set out in the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Talent Pool will offer opportunities for labour mobility and contribute to the EU's competitiveness agenda by helping Member States attract and retain global talent. Participation in the Talent Pool is voluntary for Member States.
This new platform will make it easier for employers across the EU to identify and recruit jobseekers from non-EU countries for occupations facing labour shortages within the EU. Jobseekers from third countries will be able to register their profiles on the platform and showcase their skills, qualifications, work experience and language knowledge. This will give EU employers access to a broader pool of talent. The job vacancies of EU employers from participating Member States will be available in the EU Talent Pool, allowing jobseekers to find jobs that match their skills.
The Talent Pool will also support the implementation of Talent Partnerships, a Commission initiative to match the skills of workers from countries outside the EU with the labour market needs inside the EU, while engaging partner countries strategically on broader migration management cooperation including the prevention of illegal migration. Jobseekers who have developed their skills under a Talent Partnership will be able to flag them in their profiles on the EU Talent Pool platform. In addition, the Talent Pool will also support the implementation of future European legal gateway offices, starting with the EU-India pilot, aimed to facilitated skilled labour mobility.
Next Steps
The regulation must now be formally adopted by the European Parliament and the Council. As soon as the regulation enters into force, the Commission will develop the platform, with the aim of making it operational as soon as possible.
Participating Member States will set up National Contact Points to support the implementation of the tool.
Background
The EU Talent Pool proposal was presented in 2023 as part of the Commission's Skills and Talent Mobility package, delivering on President Ursula von der Leyen's commitment to make the EU more attractive to talent from outside the EU. It is also a deliverable of the Union of Skills and part of the comprehensive approach to migration under the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
For More Information
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Proposal for a Regulation on the establishment of an EU Talent Pool
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Legal migration and resettlement - Migration and Home Affairs
Quote(s)
The EU Talent Pool is a key step towards attracting the talent and skills our economies need while ensuring fair and transparent recruitment. By opening safe and legal pathways for global talent, we strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and create new opportunities for individuals and businesses alike.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
The EU Talent Pool will help global talent choose the EU and make it easier for employers to bring in the skills they need from outside the EU to address labour shortages. By making the recruitment process quicker and fairer, the tool will connect job seekers with market needs, fostering innovation and sustaining growth. That way, the Talent Pool will make Europe more competitive.
Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness
Today’s agreement on the EU Talent Pool marks an important step in the global race for highly skilled talent. To strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, we must ensure that the EU is the number 1 destination for expertise and innovation. By seeking new and forward-looking ways to align the needs of our companies with the potential of our international partners, we can create meaningful and mutually beneficial opportunities. For this, today’s agreement sends a positive signal.
Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration