Finnish Government considers the Commission’s proposal on EU Talent Pool justified in principle

The European Commission has proposed the creation of an EU Talent Pool with the aim of facilitating international recruitment to respond to skills and labour shortages. The Government submitted a Union communication on its position concerning the proposal to Parliament on 29 February 2024.

The Commission proposes the creation of EU Talent Pool – an EU-wide digital platform of available talent. The purpose of Talent Pool would be to match open vacancies in the EU with jobseekers in third countries for sectors suffering from labour shortages, in particular. The EU-level platform aims to offer better visibility and increase the attractiveness of the EU more than national measures have been able to do. The platform would also provide information on recruitment and immigration in the Member States.

The goal of the proposal is to ease international recruitment to respond to labour shortages in the Member States and to increase the visibility and attractiveness of job opportunities in the EU to third country workers. The EU needs workforce from outside its borders, especially for sectors that suffer from labour shortages.

The Commission proposes that participation in Talent Pool would be voluntary for the Member States. Finland will decide whether to take part in Talent Pool only after an outcome has been negotiated on the initiative.

Government considers the proposal justified in principle

Finland supplements the labour force primarily from the EU and from certain partner countries and professional groups based on the Government Programme. The global competition for experts is fierce. The Finnish Government recognises the potential of EU cooperation to generate value added for the Member States in their international recruitment activities. The EU’s common visibility can contribute to improving the availability of talent in the Member States.

Parliament decides on Finland’s position

The Government prepares Union communications to Parliament on those matters to be decided by the EU which, due to their content, would fall within the competence of Parliament if Finland were not a member of the EU. Based on it, Parliament will form Finland’s position on the Commission’s proposal. The European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the Commission will negotiate on the content of the proposed regulation with the aim of forming a final regulation.

Inquiries:
Sari Haavisto, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7154