Achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal will not happen unless the workforce acquires the relevant skills and competencies. Yet, Europe is currently facing a skills gap. For this reason, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed in her 2022 State of the Union address to make 2023 the European Year of Skills to strengthen competitiveness, better target investments, and cooperate with companies. A skilled workforce has the potential to contribute to sustainable growth, more innovation, and improve companies’ competitiveness.
  
Public procurement is a powerful tool that public authorities can use to stimulate demand for skills supporting the transition to a greener, more circular economy. Public procurers across Europe have started to embed skills requirements in tenders across a variety of product categories, such as ICT equipment and furniture.

You are invited to join the European Commission Green Public Procurement Helpdesk's webinar on Public Procurement of Green and Circular Skills, which will take place on 10 March at 10:00 - 11:30 CET.

The webinar will analyse how public procurement can be used as a strategic tool that can support the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and help futureproof the IT and furniture sectors.

Programme:

• Welcome and Introduction from the EU GPP Helpdesk, Ivan Azevedo, Unit B.1, DG ENV, European Commission
• Presentation of the European Skills Agenda, Felix Rohn, Unit B.2., DG EMPL, European Commission
• Procuring refurbished IT Products: The ReBOOT project, Manuel António Ferrinho Semedo, Porto Municipality (Portugal)
• Procuring refurbished furniture: Lessons learned from the ProCirc project, Christian Tangene, The Norwegian Agency for Public and Financial Management

The workshop will be facilitated by Helena O'Rourke-Potocki, ICLEI – Local
Governments for Sustainability

Participation is free of charge, but prior registration is essential.