Over 40 delegations will convene at the meeting of Ministers in charge of Vocational Education and Training (VET), the European social partners and the European Commission in Riga on 22 June to address workforce challenges, such as labour shortages and skills mismatches, that Europe is likely to face in the future. Entitled Innovating for the Future of VET, the meeting will be chaired by Ms Mārīte Seile, the Latvian Minister for Education and Science, and will focus on competitive and prestigious VET – the gateway to long-term employability in Europe and personal development.
“With jobs, growth and competitiveness at the heart of the European agenda, governments and businesses need to have a forward-looking and innovative approach to vocational education and training as one of the tools for achieving these goals,” says Mārīte Seile.
The morning session will conclude with the endorsement of the Riga Conclusions. The conclusions set medium-term deliverables for the 2015-2020 period emanating from the Bruges Communiqué (2010), thus reaffirming support for the European agenda for growth and jobs.
The afternoon session, which is devoted to promoting the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA), will welcome entrepreneurs and NGOs. With all the parties involved sitting at the same table and sharing the same aim of enhancing the competitiveness of European VET, the meeting will provide a platform for discussions on current achievements and future developments. The afternoon session will cover issues like new incentives for the broader involvement of companies, including SMEs.
Note:
Media are welcome to attend the ministerial doorstep interviews and tour-de-table (video and photo opportunities). The press conference will be held at 13:15 on 22 June with the Latvian Minister for Education and Science, Mārīte Seile, and the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen.
Media programme: https://eu2015.lv/images/notikumi/22062015_Media_programme_VET.pdf
Please note that only accredited media can attend the event. Information on media accreditation is available at https://eu2015.lv/media-eu/accreditation
Photo: EU2015.LV