This paper has been commissioned by the European social partners ETUC, BUSINESSEUROPE, CEEP and UEAPME, in relation to external expertise on “Skills needs in greening economies”.
It serves to underline the important role played by trade unions, employers’ organisations and individual employers in supporting the Europe 2020 strategy’s goal of turning the EU into a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy capable of delivering high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion.
It explores a selection of different and emerging models of social partner participation and engagement in the transition towards a low-carbon economy.
It is based on the four priorities of the 2002 Framework of Actions for the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications:
- identification and anticipation of competencies5 and qualification needs;
- recognition and validation of competencies and qualifications6;
- information, support and guidance; and
- mobilising resources for the lifelong development of competencies.