Swift adoption of Regulation to streamline cross-border enforcement needed julia Thu, 09/21/2023 - 10:12 Thu, 09/21/2023 - 12:00 Read the EDPS-EDPB Press Release and Joint Opinion on the proposed Regulation on additional procedural rules for the enforcement of the GDPR 0

Europe’s 15 best social innovators will compete at the grand finale of the 12th European Investment Bank Institute Social Innovation Tournament, which will be held in Stockholm on 28 September under the auspices of EIB Vice-President Thomas Östros.

Press releases Back to press releases For immediate release - 21/09/2023 - 07:11 Thu, 21/09/2023 - 07:11 EP, EC and five EU Agencies spearhead green and digital skills development in the EU and beyond Brussels, 20 September 2023 – The European Parliament hosted today the landmark event “Skills, skills, skills! Skills for people, skills for competitiveness, skills for sustainability”. The initiative was proposed by the Chair of the Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) Committee Dragoș Pîslaru, MEP, co-hosted by the five EU agencies working in the field of employment, social affairs and inclusion, in partnership with the European Commission.  The initiative marks a milestone of the European Year of Skills, signalling the European Union's determination to focus on current and future skills needs. After introductory remarks by Dragoș Pîslaru, MEP, Chair of the EMPL Committee, and Joost Korte, Director-General at the European Commission’s DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, the directors of Cedefop, Eurofound, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), the European Training Foundation (ETF) and the European Labour Authority (ELA) shared their knowledge on the transformative power of skills that will have an impact in shaping Europe’s future. The 120 participants in the room, and the 200 followers online – members of the European Parliament and the European Commission, policymakers, social partners, civil society and other stakeholders – engaged in an open and frank debate with directors and experts from the five social Agencies, about getting the balance right between challenges and opportunities to ensure the future is fair, healthy and safe for the EU and beyond. The agenda of the meeting included presentations and debates about the most relevant skills for people, competitiveness, sustainability, and how to get the right balance in meeting the skills needed for the green and digital transitions. Dragoș Pîslaru, MEP, Chair of the EMPL Committee at the European Parliament, said: “Investing in skills is the ultimate approach to achieve a competitive economy for the benefit of all. Economic and social objectives can no longer be treated separately and operating in silos has already shown its limits. The investment in skills needs to go hand in hand with the social investment in people.” Joost Korte, Director-General at the European Commission’s DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, added: “The European Year of Skills empowers us to spread the message throughout every corner of Europe about the importance of investing in people and their skills. EU agencies are integral members of the EU family, working closely with Member States, stakeholders, and social partners to elevate skills.” Jürgen Siebel, Executive Director at Cedefop, said: “Population ageing poses a big challenge to the successful implementation of the green and digital transitions. We can best meet this challenge with formal and non-formal education and training and with continuous up-skilling – a skills revolution.” Ivailo Kalfin, Executive Director at Eurofound, said: “Skills and training should be part of the DNA of a thriving and competitive EU economy. However, to fill the employment gaps there are two sides - jobs need to be attractive and job seekers - skilled. Hence, job quality needs to be addressed – wages, working conditions, non-discrimination, affordable public services.” William Cockburn, Interim Executive Director at EU-OSHA, highlighted: “Every day, the EU loses thousands of skilled workers from the labour market due to injury, illness or even death. Apart from being an obligation under EU law, effective occupational safety and health measures, including training, can help stem this terrible loss and so support the EU’s growth and competitiveness.” Pilvi Torsti, Director at the ETF, said: “Skills are at the core of creating fairer and more inclusive societies at a global level. The European Year of Skills offers a unique opportunity to join forces and continue our work in supporting skills development considering the geopolitical landscape in the EU and beyond. The ETF is committed to working with all institutions on key aspects - ranging from skills anticipation to the recognition of qualifications - to generate impact in the long term.” Cosmin Boiangiu, Executive Director at the ELA, said: "Cross-border labour mobility is not the silver bullet to solve labour markets imbalances, but it does contribute sensibly to a well-functioning EU Single Market. ELA’s ambition is to use the full potential of EURES, in particular through better matching of jobs with skills, and more dynamic targeting of labour shortages and surpluses. We will do so in cooperation with the European Commission, other EU agencies and institutions, Member States and social partners, aiming at more effective labour mobility. Notes to editor: About EU-OSHA The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) contributes to making Europe a safer, healthier and more productive place to work. The Agency researches, develops, and distributes reliable, balanced, and impartial safety and health information and organises pan-European awareness raising campaigns. Set up by the European Union in 1994 and based in Bilbao, Spain, the Agency brings together representatives from the European Commission, Member State governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations, as well as leading experts in each of the EU Member States and beyond. Now you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or subscribe to our monthly newsletter OSHmail. You can also register for regular news and information from EU-OSHA via RSS feeds. http://osha.europa.eu

EIB President Werner Hoyer has been participating in UNGA this week alongside senior representatives of the EU Bank, which is owned by the 27 members of the European Union. President Hoyer was joining global leaders to address the climate emergency and ways to accelerate the 2030 Global Agenda for Sustainable Development through innovative investment.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed an agreement to co-finance the construction of Poland’s first offshore wind farm — one of the largest in the world — with a loan of up to €610 million. The project will be completed by a consortium led by the LLC Baltic Power. This flagship investment will help accelerate Poland’s decarbonisation and boost energy security. €350 million if it are backed by the InvestEU programme, which aims to mobilise investment for EU policy priorities, including the green transition.

The Board of Directors of the European Investment Bank (EIB) today approved € 6.3 billion of new financing to support new business investment, transport, climate action, education and health, and regional development Europe and around the world.

International cooperation in data protection: not an option, but vital to our tasks julia Wed, 09/20/2023 - 08:45 Wed, 09/20/2023 - 12:00 Read Blogpost by EDPS Secretary-General Leonardo Cervera Navas on his participation in a high-level event titled "Data-protection in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership Region", in which he shares ways to build stronger convergence between DPAs from around the world.  0

Supporting investments protecting biodiversity and managing the risks from the threat posed to nature and biodiversity in EIB projects and are key elements of the EIB’s nature-positive framework presented by EIB Vice President Ambroise Fayolle on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly today.

Today, the governments of Germany and Luxembourg announced new funding of EUR 50 million for the City Climate Finance Gap Fund (Gap Fund), a multi-donor fund, implemented by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank with partners. These resources will support the development of low-carbon and climate-resilient urban investments and will nearly than double the fund’s capitalization, bringing it to EUR 105 million, one of the largest early-stage technical assistance funds for cities and climate.