The European umbrella organisation regrouping national automotive trade associations and brand dealer, CECRA, organised on 20 and 21 September the first European & International Automotive Mobility Forum.
The plenary session, after European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans’ key note speech, was dedicated to what is at stake for the future of mobility in the ‘Green Deal’.
Ceemet Director General Delphine Rudelli was invited to provide the view of the social partner for the employers of the automotive sector. In her introductory speech, she highlighted two questions:
- How will the ‘Green Deal’ impact the skills requirements?
- How could ‘Green Deal’ promote employment in EU?
Skills development in an industry in transition
During her opening statement Ms Rudelli insisted that it was difficult to see at this stage what the impact of the ‘Green Deal’ would and will be. The complexity of the ‘Green Deal’ not being the sole transformation industry and society is going through, there is also the digital one, makes it difficult to make a specific forecast.
In addition, the preparedness of industry is not optimal neither. Although industry is partnering up with the Commission to realise the objectives set out in the twin transition, they are currently focussed on dealing with the consequences of the decisions. This can be explained by the fact that the social consequences of the twin transition were not considered and they turn out to be particularly challenging.
Despite the context, Ceemet has – as representative of industry employers – joined the ‘Pact for Skills’ for the automotive sector. The Blueprint initiative for the mobility ecosystem will look over the next four years into which competences the automotive industry sector needs and how the workforce can benefit best from up- and re-skilling.
Future of employment in the EU
Along the lines of what was said regarding skills, speakers also agreed for the topic ‘employment’ that it is difficult to make a forecast. Nobody knows what real impact of the ‘Fit for 55’ legislation under the ‘Green Deal’ will have on employment, let alone how it could promote employment.
In her contribution, Ms Rudelli insisted that industry will need initiatives that will support them along the way of transition. Developing a framework for companies will help them in adapting to the objectives set out in the ‘Green Deal’. The success of the transition will be decisive whether or not there will be companies to provide quality employment in Europe