The Communication on Harnessing talent which was published by the European Commission in January 2023, focuses on regions that are facing a related set of challenges: a sharp working age population decline in combination with a low and stagnating share of people with a tertiary educationas well as regions experiencing a significant departure of young people.
The Communication offers tailor-made, place based and multi-dimensional solutions, including the use of existing EU funds and initiatives to support regions most affected by the ongoing demographic transition and its side-effects and prevent the emergence of new and increased territorial disparities in the EU.
Addressing demographic change is key to building a more fair and resilient society. The EU recognizes the importance of nurturing talent, particularly since it undergoes significant demographic changes. Some regions in the EU are experiencing a decline in their working-age population and a low percentage of individuals with tertiary education. Additionally, these regions are affected by the departure of young people. If these issues are not addressed, it can lead to growing disparities between regions in terms of workforce size and skills, ultimately affecting the EU's resilience and competitiveness.
To tackle this challenge and ensure that no region or individual is left behind, the European Commission has launched the Talent Booster Mechanism. This initiative aims to support regions in training, retaining, and attracting people with the necessary skills and competences to mitigate the impact of demographic transition. The Talent Booster Mechanism is part of the broader efforts of the European Year of Skills and emphasizes tailor-made solutions for various regions, utilizing existing EU funds and initiatives.
The Talent Booster Mechanism is based on the following 8 pillars:
In this context, the Harnessing Talent Platform will be leveraged as a mean of communication, disseminating information related to the mention pillars. As such, the platform will particularly be the entry point for regions to apply for the technical assistance offered under pillar one, as well as central source of experience and best practice sharing (pillar seven) and a central source of information providing analytical knowledge to support evidence-based policy making (pillar eight).
Communication on Harnessing Talent in Europe's Regions
Report on the impact of demographic change – in a changing environment
Questions and Answers on Harnessing Talent in Europe's Regions and the Demography Report
Factsheet on Harnessing Talent in Europe's Regions
The impact of demographic change in Europe
