The Europass Scheme Grows Amid Important Changes

MEPs, Council representatives and the European Commission informally agreed on a new, updated Europass instrument that can ensure a better understanding and more interoperability of skills and qualifications for job seekers and employers.

The European Parliament managed to ensure that this instrument is more accessible to people with disabilities and protects personal data more effectively.  MEPs also managed to clarify the “skills intelligence” data system (aggregated data on skills and competences), which is essential for guidance and counselling, the recruitment process, the choice of education, training and career paths.

 Rapporteur Svetoslav Hristov Malinov (EPP, BG) from the Culture and Education Committee said:  “The new Europass Framework simplifies and modernises the ways in which citizens across Europe will showcase their skills, qualifications and experience. I believe it answers the requirements of the digital age and will be an efficient and user-friendly tool for better economic growth and competitiveness”.

 Rapporteur Thomas Mann (EPP, DE) from the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, said: "Europass helps people to make their skills and experience transparent throughout Europe. In the framework of these negotiations, we decided to revise Europass substantially. New tools are foreseen: the creation of an e-portfolio and skills assessment, information on learning opportunities, qualifications, recognition of qualifications and data on the labour market.”

"In times of youth unemployment in many of the EU Member States, it is the duty of the EU to support learners, jobseekers, employers and other stakeholders, regardless of where they are from. It is of key importance to raise public awareness, so that Europass becomes a common European trademark for an application portfolio that combines and presents important information".

Next steps

The provisional agreement still needs to be approved by the EP’s Employment and Culture committees and the EU member states’ permanent representatives (COREPER). Before entering into force, the draft law will need to be formally approved by the full Parliament and the EU Council.

 Quick facts

With more than 126 million website visits and 60 million CVs created online since 2005, the Europass is one of the most successful and best-known EU initiatives.

ABC Note: Europass is a European Union initiative to increase transparency of qualification and mobility of citizens in Europe. It aims to make a person's skills and qualifications clearly understood throughout Europe.

 It supports educational and working mobility in Europe, by making skills and qualifications transparent and easy to understand for learners, jobseekers, employers and education and training institutions.

The Europass portfolio consists of five documents: a CV, language passport, certificate section, diploma section and mobility document.