The role of cities to boost innovation, support youth employment initiatives and to make education more accessible were the key topics discussed by EPP-members during a SEDEC Commission meeting.
During a debate with Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Markku Markkula, Chair of the Board of Helsinki Region spoke about the commitment of cities and regions to boost innovation "We strongly support the several activities to widen participation in closing the innovation divide." He added that cities and regions with their industries and universities can be instrumental in moving towards sustainable growth and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Tanya Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo spoke about the active participation of Gabrovo in initiatives such as the Science meets Parliaments & Region and the Knowledge Exchange Platform. She added "We need more concrete help in education and research as well as to widen measures in order for universities and SMEs to participate in Horizon Europe." Hristova also spoke about the difficulties faced by the cultural sector and appealed to the European Commission to create projects to support cultural industries.
In her remarks Mariya Gabriel, said: "Regions and cities play an essential role in achieving our green and digital transitions. The Joint Action Plan and the relaunched Knowledge Exchange Platform work plan that the Committee of the Regions and the Commission are adopting today are the building blocks of our European Knowledge strategy and focus on concrete solutions to improve citizens’ lives."
During an exchange of views with Joost Korte, (DG EMPL) Csaba Borboly, President of Harghita spoke on the need to support SMEs. "SMEs need support to deliver a stable supply of good quality apprenticeships that will contribute to address youth unemployment." He also supported the idea of organising Local Job Fairs. Presenting his Opinion on the European Skills Agenda, Borboly said that local and regional authorities play a key role in education and skills related initiatives. He emphasized that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach in the European Skills Agenda is not sustainable, due to the digital and economic gaps between regions. Borboly added that one had to also consider the change in the workforce demand taking into account the green and digital transitions.
Romy Karier, Member of Clervaux municipal council and the CoR Rapporteur on the Youth Employment Support outlined the need to boost supply and quality of apprenticeships, limit unpaid internships and promote labour mobility. She added that the contribution of regional and local authorities in the fields of employment, training, and education policies is crucial and suggested that partnerships in all phases of the Youth Guarantee should include local and regional authorities.
Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca and the CoR Rapporteur on Achieving the European Education Area by 2025 said that the European Education Area is the EU's vision for the future of education, a vision which must be made reality in local communities. He said "The CoR's focus should be on how local authorities can support these efforts to transform the education system and on ensuring that the work of local and regional authorities becomes an integral part of the EU plans and programmes for the European Education Area by 2025. Only by working together with local communities we can make education more accessible at every level to people with disabilities or from vulnerable groups." Boc added that supporting teachers is critical to build the European Education Area saying that the teaching profession needs to be revalorized in social and financial terms.