45 submissions from 45 organizations told the European Commission what they think about this file. Here is what each of them said, in their own words.
The Commission lists 55 submissions on this file. Shown here: the 45 from organizations. Not shown, by design: submissions from private individuals, which we never publish, and anything filed since our last weekly refresh.
Who showed up
14 submissions from industry — companies and their trade associations — against 15 from civil society: NGOs, consumer organizations, environmental groups and trade unions.
Industry 14Civil society 15Public authorities, academia, other 16
Groupings use the respondent type each organization selected when filing. Counting submissions, not organizations — a body that filed twice is counted twice.
What the room declares
22 of 45
in the EU Register
80
full-time lobbying staff
€3.7M+
declared costs a year
55
EP accreditations declared
Self-declared to the EU Transparency Register (snapshot 2 Sept 2026). The cost figure sums band floors, so the true total is higher.
The file, right now
The consultation closed on 14 Dec 2022 — it ran from 17 Oct 2022.
One block of text on this file was submitted, identically, by three or more organizations. Shared text is a fact about the filings; what it means is for the reader.
“In our role of stakeholders and partners of the EU institutions, Don Bosco International (DBI), the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) and the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) contribute with this written input to the open consultation on the European Commissions proposal on the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Year of…”
The European Pharmaceutical Students Association (EPSA) is an umbrella organisation representing around 100.000 students in 35 European countries. In response to the European Commission's proposal, EPSA welcomes President Ursula von der Leyens decision to designate 2023 as the European Year of Skills.
Renault Group welcomes and supports EU 2023 year of skills, an issue on which the Group is already actively engaged. Skills are a fundamental and crucial challenge in a world of toughened competitiveness in which social matters are key and should not be disregarded.
The European Students Union (ESU) welcomes the proposal of the European Commission to designate 2023 as the European Year of Skills (EYS), looking forward to ensuring that the designation would not only increase momentum for the importance of skills and skills sets in a fast-changing society, but would also bring forward key developments in the sector, with a focus on the essential role of education and training.
The Dutch Council for Training and Education is a branch organisation. Its members contribute daily to the development of talents, of both young people and adults. Our members are also sparring partners for companies in the field of learning and development and their education stems from the desires and opportunities that are present in a rapidly changing labour market.
The EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) KICs (Knowledge and Innovation Communities) welcome 2023 as the European Year of Skills. The EIT KICs appreciate the European Unions intention to invest and catalyse efforts in education and lifelong learning.
RREUSE greatly welcomes the Commissions proposal for the 2023 European Year of Skills which also acknowledges the social economys decisive role as a proponent of a socially fair and inclusive twin transition including in the field of upskilling and reskilling.
Schuman Associates welcomes the proposal to designate 2023 as the European Year of Skills and values the opportunity to participate in this open consultation. The EU Year of Skills provides an exceptional opportunity to underline the importance of developing new talent and supporting the transition of the workforce through up-skilling and re-skilling to enhance European productivity, innovation, and competitiveness.
EIT Food welcomes the decision to designate 2023 as the European Year of Skills and values the opportunity to participate in this open consultation. Innovation is a major enabler for the transition to healthier, more sustainable, and resilient food systems.
EuropeOn and GCP Europe, respectively representing electrical and mechanical contractors across Europe, together represent the professionals skilled to make the green and digital transition happen on the ground, e.g. by installing clean and renewable technologies. We totalise a massive amount of professionals in Europe (for the electrical contracting sector alone: 1.8 million workers).
CECOP supports European Commissions proposal for the European Year of Skills 2023 and its overall objective to further promote a mindset of reskilling and upskilling thereby boosting competitiveness of European companies, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, realising the full potential of the digital and green transitions in a socially fair, inclusive and just manner.
The EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) KICs (Knowledge and Innovation Communities) welcome 2023 as the European Year of Skills. The EIT KICs appreciate the European Unions intention to invest and catalyse efforts in education and lifelong learning.
In our role of stakeholders and partners of the EU institutions, Don Bosco International (DBI), the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) and the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) contribute with this written input to the open consultation on the European Commissions proposal on the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Year of…
**See the attached position paper for further details** In view of the European Commissions proposal for a forthcoming European Year of Skills 2023, CESI welcomes, in Article 2, the the overall objective of the European Year shall be to further promote a mindset of reskilling and upskilling, but regrets an exclusive focus on boosting competitiveness of European companies, in particular small and medium-sized…
The BeWell consortium members wholeheartedly welcome the proposal of the European Commission to designate 2023 as the European Year of Skills. This position paper supports the upskilling and reskilling initiatives of the health workforce. Its supporting arguments are clustered in a way which highlights the importance and relevance of the 2023 European Year of Skills and the urgency to act.
The EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) KICs (Knowledge and Innovation Communities) welcome 2023 as the European Year of Skills. The EIT KICs appreciate the European Unions intention to invest and catalyse efforts in education and lifelong learning.
The Euroguidance network welcomes the European Year of Skills and its objectives. We would like to highlight that in order for citizens to actively participate in upskilling and reskilling and lifelong learning opportunities as well as decent employment, career guidance plays a crucial role in assisting people to find information and make relevant choices.
Over the last thirty years, 4 out of 5 new jobs have been created by SMEs. Whereas 99 % of companies in Europe are included in this group of companies, and whereas, in order to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, a strong focus needs to be placed on their success; Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can thrive, Europe works well! 9 out of 10 small businesses have fewer than ten employees.
Filed in Swedish · English published by the European Commission
In our role of stakeholders and partners of the EU institutions, Don Bosco International (DBI), the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) and the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) contribute with this written input to the open consultation on the European Commissions proposal on the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Year of…
The lack of human resources and skills is one of the first barriers local governments mention regarding their energy and ecological transition. This is the feedback from the members of Energy Cities, a network representing over a thousand local governments. The proposal for a decision of the Parliament and Council "the Year of Skills 2023" has therefore been very well received by Energy Cities.
In our role of stakeholders and partners of the EU institutions, Don Bosco International (DBI), the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) and the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) contribute with this written input to the open consultation on the European Commissions proposal on the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Year of…
Major trends such as demographic changes and the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases have created pressures on health and social systems, which were further exacerbated by the aftermath of the pandemic and the current geopolitical context. This polycrisis has spotlighted the need to build resilient health systems and explore the potential of the digital and green transition.
The Adecco Group welcomes this proposal on making 2023 the European Year of Skills. The fact that most EU Member States experience both a host of unfilled vacancies as well as persistent (youth) unemployment, illustrates that we face a qualitative skills mismatch between supply and demand rather than merely an absolute labour shortage.
The Europass Working Group on Communication and Promotion works on the development of the communication activities of Europass on a European level. We are welcoming the European Year of Skills and its objectives. Europass is a great tool to discover and showcase skills. It is already established and known, available in 30 languages and a free service.
1. The role of local government in adjusting formal training, further training and retraining for both employed and unoccupied persons. Local government can act as an intermediary, lobby and facilitator for the adjustment of training sub-systems, cooperating with the business fabric, SMEs, foundations, business associations and education providers with regard to: — Dialogue with all actors involved in the labour…
Filed in Spanish · English published by the European Commission
UNWTO commends the excellent work on tabling this proposal, building on the successful EYY 2022, and hereby reaffirms its commitment to support and work together on common activities which are in the pipeline for the European Year of Skills. We wish to communicate the observations based on our careful review of the proposal text in the attached document.
The European Commissions decision to designate 2023 as the European Year of Skills comes at the most opportune moment when Europe needs a highly skilled workforce to meet the growing demands of its labour market arising from the green and digital transition. As a digital education provider and a signatory to the Pact for Skills, Pearson is committed to support the EUs goal of closing Europes skills gap by 2030.
EuropeOn and GCP Europe, respectively representing electrical and mechanical contractors across Europe, together represent the professionals qualified to make the green and digital transition happen on the ground, by installing and maintaining clean and renewable technologies. We totalise a massive amount of professionals in Europe (1.8 million workers only for the electrical contracting sector).
More and more effective investment in skills, strengthening co-operation among all relevant actors and matching individual aspirations with labour market demands are all very commendable objectives, but not very new and so general, that nobody will argue against it. In that respect, only objective 4 is a point that will raise discussion within and among member states.
Training and skills of craftsmen and SMEs are key strategic elements for the CNA and the ECIPA Foundation, which they have always considered to be only through appropriate and specific support for the training and skills of entrepreneurs and their employees, will be able to cope with today’s challenges and transitions.
Filed in Italian · English published by the European Commission
The European Confederation of the Woodworking Industries, CEI-Bois, believes that skills are key for Europes growth, inclusiveness, and future prosperity. For this reason, CEI-Bois welcomes by the announcement of President Von den Leyer during her State of the Union address to tackle the shortage of skills in Europe by putting an emphasis on skills, investment on professional education, upskilling and attracting the…
The 2023 European Year of Skills is an excellent opportunity to work with EU level instruments to respond to labour market needs, such as mobility schemes, upgrading Vocational Educational Training (VET) and forecasting tools.
DUCC is a platform of 11 European associations which represent downstream formulating industries from: cosmetics, detergents, aerosols, paints, inks, toners, pressroom chemicals, adhesives and sealants, construction chemicals, fragrances, lubricants, crop protection and chemical distributors industries.
The European Association of Regional and Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning (EARLALL) warmly welcomes the proposal to make 2023 the European Year of Skills. Current challenges, such as the green and digital transitions, the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, demographic changes, etc, make it necessary to raise awareness and encourage debate across the EU not only on…
As a representative of the European Civil Society in Education, LLLP welcomes the initiative to make 2023 the European Year of Skills while regretting a missed opportunity for a European Year of Lifelong Learning. Current challenges require a focus on all ages and types of learners providing them with support to adapt and re-envision the society.
Europe needs more skilled workers in the areas of STEM. This will be the only way to compete in the world of manufacturing, distribution, and services. The best way to teach STEM is with robotics, and specifically with autonomous mobile robotics (AMR). WorldSkills Europe have an excellent program with their "mobile robotics competition".
We, the Advice Centre for Migrants in Vienna and the Austrian-wide contact points for people with qualifications abroad (AST), look forward to the European Year of Skills 2023 and welcome the measures promoted and called for during the Year of Comments! From our point of view, simplifying and speeding up the recognition of qualifications and promoting further training appear to be two key issues to be supported.
Filed in German · English published by the European Commission
I think this is a great idea; about time we had a year on this - I believe It can support the kind of thinking we need in education and how we practice it. Perhaps we should particularely address the issue of assessment and make creativity a recognized academic topic. The focus needs to be on skills for citizenship right now; skills vs knowledge.
A 2021 study undertaken by the BCG (shorturl.at/dgkO5) looked into the opportunities and challenges created by the transition of the automotive industry towards electrification. The study shows that shift to EVs will have only a minor net impact on jobs through to 2030. The relatively small net impact should not, however, obscure the massive structural changes resulting from electrification.
The European Year of Competences 2023 can be an important lever for finding solutions and actors to update and improve skills. This year will start in a context where the labor markets of EU countries are increasingly faced with the need for new talents, and in a context of perpetual technological disruption and in an environment where working life is increasingly changing.
We, the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), call for a holistic understanding of the EU Year of Skills 2023: Work and life skills are closely entwined, so professional development, including basic, digital and green skills, but also personal skills that all citizens need in their daily lives, including life and transversal skills, and critical skills to strengthen sustainability, democracy…
Focus on concrete work but also focus on making the best possible use of the already existing tools and initiatives: promote their use, find out new and innovative ways to use them and bring them closer to the learner. And always keep the learner at the centre.
Support mainly practical workshops and activities with added value and practical results. PR activities are also important, but we shloud get closer to the target groups, not only keep it at "conference and stakeholders level". Preferably on site activities should be in place, for the impact of online activities is very low! Thank you
The COVID-19 pandemic changed all social patterns and strongly changed the way we work. The pandemic made everyone more aware of the essentiality of nurses work and all healthcare professionals to manage and tackle health crises. In a constantly changing labour market that is increasingly globalized, digital, robotic and green, the need to build and acquire new skills has become fundamental.
written by the Association “Spring Enterprise – Learning Territory of Vannes Country” www.territoire-apprenant.bzh - President: Jean-Marc Bienvenu Our Association promotes all actions for lifelong learning and current and future skills. It is therefore particularly interested in the European Pact for Skills programme.
Filed in French · English published by the European Commission
Dear European Commission, Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Our Association's Labour Specialists also have read the "European Year of Skills 2023" address initiative. Our Labour Specialists agree with the objectives of initiative. The goals, objectives, and proposals have been put together very nicely. Congratulations to the writers.
Method. Every quote is verbatim from the organization’s own submission to the European Commission, trimmed to its opening passage and never summarized by a model. Where a submission was filed in another EU language we show the English text the European Commission publishes alongside it, labeled on the quote; the original is one click away at the source. Groupings use the respondent type the organization itself selected when filing. We deliberately do not label anyone “supportive” or “opposed” — you read what they wrote and draw your own conclusion. Organizations only, never individuals. Reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU; the European Commission is not liable for this reuse.
