Brussels, 23 November 2023
Today, the Commission launched the Harnessing Talent Platform, a new hub for sharing best practices, which will help EU regions attract and retain people with the necessary skills to mitigate the impact of the demographic transition.
Dubravka Šuica, Vice-President for Democracy and Demography, said:
“With the launching of this Harnessing Talent Platform, we are implementing a key part of the European Commission’s work on addressing demographic change. This builds on the territorial dimension of demography which, as we stated in the Demography Toolbox launched last month, requires us to introduce place-based solutions that are grounded in local realities.”
Opening the launch event, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira said:
”Leaving no one behind – that’s our key mantra, and a core goal of Cohesion Policy! Thanks to Cohesion funds, we can provide regions with the necessary tools to fight the so-called ‘talent development trap’. By investing such funds into addressing disparities and enhancing the attractiveness of regions, we can support individuals wishing to work and live in their regions of origin. The new Platform is bringing regions one step closer to retaining and harnessing existing talents in their areas”.
The launch event also announced the 10 winning regions selected under the Pillar 1 call of the Talent Booster Mechanism, which will now receive the technical assistance and expertise to attract, develop and retain talent. In December 2023, the Commission will launch a call under Pillar 2, which will target 36 regions at risk of falling into the ‘talent development trap’ – a decline of their working-age population and a stagnant number of people with tertiary education.
To build a fair and resilient society that leaves no region or individual behind, the Commission launched the Talent Booster Mechanism in 2023. The Mechanism is an eight-pillar initiative to support regions in training, retaining, and attracting people with the necessary skills to mitigate the impact of the demographic transition. The new Platform will help to deliver on these objectives and will act as a hub for collaboration and communication.
Source – EU Commission