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GPP Helpdesk Webinar: ''Public Procurement of Green and Circular Skills''

Description

The first European Commission’s Helpdesk service on SRPP and GPP webinar of 2023 took place on 10 May and focused on public procurement of green skills.

Achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal will not happen unless the workforce acquires the relevant skills and competences. Yet, Europe is currently facing a skills gap. Estimates show that more than three-quarters of companies across the EU report having difficulties finding workers with the necessary skills. For this reason, European Commission President von der Leyen proposed in her 2022 State of the Union address to make 2023 the European Year of Skills to strengthen competitiveness, better target investments, and cooperate with companies. A skilled workforce has the potential to contribute to sustainable growth, more innovation and improve companies’ competitiveness.

Public procurement is a powerful tool that public authorities can use to stimulate demand for skills. By embedding criteria in tenders for certain certifications, services, or qualifications, public buyers can send a signal to the market and encourage the development and learning of skills that support the transition to a greener economy. Procurers across Europe have started to embed skills requirements in tenders across a variety of product categories.

This webinar analyses how public procurement can be used as a strategic tool that can support the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and help to futureproof the European Economy.

Agenda/Speakers

  1. Welcome and Introduction from the EU GPP Helpdesk, Ivan Azevedo, Unit B.1, DG ENV, European Commission
  2. Presentation of the European Skills Agenda, Felix Rohn, Unit B.2., DG EMPL, European Commission
  3. Procuring refurbished IT Products: The ReBOOT project, Manuel António Ferrinho Semedo, Porto Municipality (Portugal)
  4. Procuring refurbished furniture: Lessons learned from the ProCirc project, Christian Tangene, The Norwegian Agency for Public and Financial Management