New Commission task force on skills and mobility launched
The High level task force on skills and mobility met for the first time, along with European Commissioner for Employment and Social affairs, Anna Diamantopoulou on 20 June. The task force forms part of the drive launched at the end of February 2001 to open up new European labour markets by 2005. It will address issues such as the skills shortage in areas such as the information and communications technologies sector, identify the main barriers to mobility and generally identify the measures that are required in order for Europe to attain its goal of creating a knowledge-based economy, as set out at the Lisbon summit in 2000. Upon the first meeting, Ms Diamantopoulou highlighted what the task force's role will be. 'The Commission is looking to this task force to provide a fresh view on the way in which the new pan European labour markets are emerging, and what measures are needed at various levels to remove the barriers to these labour markets by 2005, making them open to all with access for all.' The ten representatives on the task force are drawn from ten different countries and represent academia, industry, trade unions, banking, former politicians and other related areas. The first report by the task force will be made before the end of the year and will be used as a basis for a Commission action plan.