CEI-Bois provides input to key EU labour and skills initiatives
- Feb 27
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 9
Over the past months, the European Commission has launched several consultations on forthcoming initiatives in the fields of social affairs and employment. CEI-Bois has actively engaged in these processes to ensure that the priorities of Europe’s woodworking industries are taken into account.
Across its contributions, CEI-Bois highlighted the need for competitive companies, simplified rules, support for SMEs and social partner involvement as key conditions for successful EU initiatives.
Below is a summary of the main consultations.
Quality Jobs Act
In the first-phase consultation on the envisaged Quality Jobs Act, CEI-Bois stressed that quality jobs are created by competitive and innovative companies operating in a supportive regulatory framework.
The sector called for the initiative to prioritise:
simplification and better enforcement of existing rules,
practical support for reskilling and upskilling,
full respect for social partner autonomy and national labour market models.
New legislative obligations should only be considered where clearly necessary and after careful assessment of their impact on competitiveness and SMEs.
European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS)
CEI-Bois also contributed to the consultation on the European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS), which aims to facilitate cross-border labour mobility through digital solutions.
The woodworking industries emphasised that the initiative should focus on simple, practical and fully interoperable systems that reduce administrative burdens.
In particular, procedures must remain efficient and user-friendly for companies of all sizes, especially SMEs operating across borders.
Future EU Strategy for Vocational Education and Training
CEI-Bois welcomed the development of a European Strategy for Vocational Education and Training (VET) as a key instrument to strengthen Europe’s industrial competitiveness and support the green and digital transitions.
In its contribution, CEI-Bois highlighted the need to:
build on sectoral expertise,
strengthen the structured involvement of social partners,
support SME participation in training systems,
integrate green, digital and transversal competences.
Improving the attractiveness and permeability of vocational pathways will be essential to address labour shortages in industrial sectors.
Future of EU Public Procurement
In the consultation on the future EU public procurement framework, CEI-Bois noted that the current rules are largely fit for purpose.
The sector therefore called for a focus on:
simplification and better implementation,
improved SME access to public tenders,
stronger use of structured market dialogue to improve tender design.
The contribution also highlighted the importance of fair competition and respect for national labour systems.
Skills Portability Initiative
Finally, CEI-Bois contributed to the Skills Portability Initiative, which aims to facilitate the recognition and portability of skills across the EU.
The woodworking industries supported the overall objective but emphasised that progress should primarily focus on:
simplifying and harmonising existing systems,
improving the implementation of existing EU tools,
strengthening information flows and trust between Member States’ education systems.
Significant improvements can be achieved without creating additional administrative burdens for companies or workers.
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