The conference on #ReskillEU – new jobs for energy and transport in Europe, co-hosted by the TEN section and the European Commission's DG Research and Innovation in Brussels on 8 November 2023, sent a clear message: the EU must have a structured and efficient plan to develop the critical skills that are needed, if the energy and transport transitions are to happen.

Clean energy and transport urgently need new skills, knowledge and capacities, and the EU's pathway towards net zero emissions by 2050 can only be successful if it goes hand in hand with a workforce equipped with the right skillset.

Referring to the importance of "new skills and knowledge for a smooth green and digital transition in the transport and energy sector," EESC president Oliver Röpke said: "A focus on the green and digital transition must not overlook the human element in achieving these goals. We need to make sure that all members of society are part of this transition."

To ensure that workers are equipped with the required "new" skills, the EU must act now, in line with the objectives set in the European Skills Agenda for 2025 and against the background of the European Year of Skills 2023.

The EU renewables sector currently needs over 1.2 million skilled workers and – according to the International Renewable Energy Agency – these figures are expected to increase annually until 2050.

The same goes for transport, which employs over 15 million people in the EU. Transport is a sector that is undergoing rapid transformation and being shaped a great deal by automation, electrification and greening technologies.

"When we look at the energy and transport sectors in Europe, the magnitude of the skills challenge becomes strikingly clear," pointed out Baiba Miltoviča, the TEN section president. "We must ensure that the development of knowledge and skills is at the forefront of our efforts. This entails a commitment to continuous learning, retraining and upskilling to meet the evolving demands." (mp)