site.btaEC Vice-President Sefcovic: In 3 years, Europe Will Need 800,000 Qualified Workers

During Green Week 2023 in Sofia, Eurpean Commission Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations Maros Sefcovic said that in three years, Europe will need 800,000 highly qualified workers. Sefcovic participated via video interview in the forum, which is  dedicated to the green transition of the countries from Central and Eastern Europe, as well as energy connectivity, green financing and innovation. The event was organized by dir.bg and 3E News, and BTA is a media partner. The questions in the interview were asked by Sergey Stanishev (former prime minister(2005-2009), former president of the Party of European Socialists (2011-2022), and Member of the European Parliament (since 2014).

The green transition is a big challenge, Sefcovic also said. These are new opportunities for a new beginning for the entire region, he noted, adding that in recent years a new ecosystem with huge possibilities has been observed, and that each of these possibilities, if applied well, will create new jobs so that this industry will grow. The people's place in the green transition is in the creation of new jobs, Sefcovic pointed out. Europe has a unique social model aimed at a high-value economy, and in this economy people with very high qualifications and skills are needed. Sefcovic stressed that in regard to the European Battery Alliance, in three years the industry will need 800,000 highly qualified workers.

The European Battery Alliance, which Bulgaria joined in April 2023, was something of an experiment for Europe, Sefcovic also said. The Energy Union project, for energy strategies, which Sefcovic was responsible for, was very much in place and it helped to speed up the processes, thus Bulgaria was able to cope with a difficult period in terms of energy - difficult conditions with great challenges, he added.

In Bulgaria, there are three regions where special attention should be paid during this difficult transition - Stara Zagora, Kyustendil and Pernik, Sefcovic also pointed out. For the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, it is important to know how to best utilize the support that the EU can provide. There should be an ironclad system, and the minister should monitor how the plans are implemented, how much funds are provided and how much they are used, he added. The rule for this is that three years after the end of the programme the projects must have been completed, and therefore it is important to monitor how they are implemented and how much European funds have not been used in the countries, he added.