Background information

As of 20 December 2017 The European Commission and European social and economic partners have been working closely together under the European Partnership for Integration to create opportunities for the integration of refugees and other migrants into the EU labour market. This was reaffirmed in a joint statement on 7 September 2020, indicating that the partnership's goal is to harness the skills and competencies of migrants and refugees and promote sustainable labour markets, social inclusion, equal opportunities and gender equality to strengthen European societies and economies.

The joint statement adopted on 19 December 2022 renews this partnership, with a particular focus on integrating those fleeing Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine.

European social and economic partners, signatories of the statement are: European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Confederation of European Business (BusinessEurope), European Association of Public Service Companies (SGI Europe), European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEunited), European Union of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (Eurochambres).

Content of measure

The signatories of the statement, responding to the unprecedented challenge of supporting the millions of people who have fled Russia's aggression against Ukraine into the EU, reaffirm their commitment to the Partnership. They point out that while the immediate needs of those fleeing Ukraine, the majority of whom are women and children, relate to security and stability, equally important is the integration into the labour market of those who can work. To support this, the following joint actions were declared:

• Promoting a multifaceted approach to labour market integration, including the dissemination of good practices, cooperation with migrant organisations and further cooperation with public employment services. Particularly applicable to countries with a high concentration of war refugees from Ukraine.
• Raising awareness and maximising synergies in the use of EU funds for labor market integration, with an emphasis on migrant integration programs.
• Contributing to easier and more transparent assessment, recognition and validation of skills and qualifications in light of the European Year of Skills 2023. Socio-economic partners are to disseminate available tools and materials through their networks.
• Facilitate integration into the EU labour market and equal opportunities. The socioeconomic partners will contribute to the implementation of an EU Talent Pool pilot program for temporary protection beneficiaries.

Signatories will meet at least twice a year at the working level.

Use of measure

Not available.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Trade unions Employers' organisations EU level social partners EU (Council, EC, EP)	Employers organisation European Funds Trade union

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

The measure is a renewal and supplement (due to circumstances brought about by the influx of war refugees from Ukraine) of a joint initiative of the European Commission and the social partners. Therefore, the latter took part both in the development of a common statement, as well as pledged to get involved in the implementation of its provisions within the framework of their competencies by providing the appropriate impetus at the level of their national organizations in EU member states.

Views and reactions

European social partners jointly supported the measure, in the elaboration of which they participated directly.

Sources

• 19 December 2022: Commission together with social and economic partners reaffirms commitment for better integration of refugees and migrants into labour market (ec.europa.eu)
• 19 December 2022: SGI Europe - Joint statement of the European Commission and the EU Social and Economic Partners on supporting the labour market integration of refugees (sgieurope.org)
• 19 December 2022: SMEunited continues support to European Partnership for Integration (www.smeunited.eu)
• 20 December 2022: ETUC - Joint statement by the European Commission and Economic and Social Partners on a renewal of the European Partnership for Integration (www.etuc.org)