WORKING GROUPS

Employment, training and Social Inclusion are crucial issues for the development of regions in the context of globalisation. The permanent adaptation to competitive conditions requires the implementation of active employment policies and lifelong learning strategies. Regions have a relevant capital of experience in this field, often developed with the support of the ESF, which they can exchange and foster. Regions are also very concerned by the evolution of the European policy on this issue and they lobby for maintaining the European Social Fund as an instrument of the regional policy and for a more active participation in coordination with European and national levels.

The CPMR Employment and Training working group was created by the CPMR in 2003. Its main objectives are the following:

- To debate and build awareness about employment and training issues, policies and tools;
- To exchange experiences and good practices within regions on the themes mentioned before;
- To draw up CPMR political positions and support them within the European Stakeholders Forum on Education and Training;
- To debate the role of the ESF within the cohesion policy revision process.