Labour Minister Panayiotou: Cyprus is promoting an action plan for green and digital skills

Cyprus is preparing an action plan for the promotion of green and digital skills in the context of the European Year of Skills, Minister for Labour and Social Insurance, Yiannis Panayiotou, has said.

He was speaking after the end of the first day of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of the EU, which was held in Brussels with its Ministers for Employment formation.

"Together with my counterparts, the Labour Ministers of the Member States of the EU, we had the opportunity to discuss ways to promote green and digital skills in the context of the green and digital transition," said Panayiotou, who was, on Monday, 13 March, attending his first Council meeting since taking office.

Panayiotou added that the ministers also exchanged views "on specific actions related to the European Year of Skills which is 2023, for which we are already working on an action plan that we will finalise and implement in the coming period."

The agenda of the meeting also included a discussion on the situation in the field of employment in the EU, focusing in particular to the situation regarding refugees from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement after the meeting, Swedish Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson, speaking on behalf of the Swedish Presidency of the Council said that "the EU, its citizens and member states have taken unprecedented steps when it comes to helping Ukrainians find a job, have access to childcare and receive social welfare assistance."

Ministers also exchanged views on the European Semester 2023, as well as on a Commission proposal for a Council decision authorising member states to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention on the elimination of violence and harassment at Work.

On Tuesday, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of the EU continues in its Ministers of Health formation. Cyprus will be represented by the new Minister of Health, Popi Kanari.

(Source: CNA)