During the 21st Public Employment Services (PES) Network Board Meeting, held on 6-7 June in Liège, Belgium, Heads of PES came together to discuss challenges, including digitalisation, career guidance and PES collaborations with enlargement countries. The meeting also addressed preparations for the 10th anniversary of the Network.

The PES Network Board Meeting, hosted by the Belgian presidency, provided a platform to discuss the PES Network’s achievements and plan for future opportunities and challenges. Raymonde Yerna, Director-General of the Walloon Public Employment Service (Forem), welcomed participants to Liège, nicknamed the “Cité Ardente (The burning city).”

Board members exchanged on the use of artificial intelligence by PES, highlighting its potential for enhanced service delivery and personalised support as well as emerging challenges. Reconfirming their call for ethical standards for the use of AI, Heads of PES expressed support for continuous sharing of digitalisation tools among PES.

1 May 2024 marked the 20^th anniversary of the largest enlargement in the European Union’s history. This milestone arrives as enlargement is again very high on the EU agenda. Jordi Currell, Labour Mobility and International Affairs Director at the European Commission’s DG EMPL, provided an overview of the enlargement process’ state of play and welcomed the willingness of PES Network members to support their counterparts in enlargement countries, highlighting the fruitful cooperations already in place. Board members agreed to step up cooperation with PES from enlargement countries. New steps will be taken in the coming months to support their participation in some PES Network activities and strengthen synergies with relevant EU-funded project.

The meeting then shifted its focus to the importance of lifelong learning and guidance, with presentations and exchanges on the relationship between PES and the education sector (presented by the Romanian PES), and the role of Spain's network of Public Centres for guidance, entrepreneurship, support, and innovation in employment. Ongoing reforms taking place in France and the Netherlands were also presented.

After a presentation from Christie Morreale, Minister and Vice-President of the Walloon Government, Board Members engaged in a dialogue with Stefan Olsson, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission’s DG Employment Social Affairs and Inclusion on the evolving role of PES and of the PES Network in the past 10 years, forecasting further changes in response to labour market shifts. Caroline Mancel, Chair of the PES Network, introduced the PES Network Memo outlining key proposals to the next European leadership.

To close the Board meeting, participants were invited to a study visit of the Skills Centre Technifutur®, specialised in the industrial, digital and mobility sectors. Highlights from the second semester will include the celebration of the Network’s 10^th anniversary and the Stakeholders’ annual conference on ‘Rethinking support for those furthest from the labour market’, taking place on 5th November.    

Related reading:

Enlargement package

PES Network Work Programme