Marlene Mizzi, was appointed as the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) rapporteur and spokesperson for the CULT committee's opinion: “Creating a competitive EU labour market for the 21st century: matching skills and qualifications with demand and job opportunities, as a way to recover from the crisis".

Mizzi said: "The current skills deficit in Europe is not the main cause for the high unemployment rates at the moment, but it may become if we do not address this issue immediately. The current economic situation and the lack of growth in Europe are the main culprits of high unemployment, but ironically there are job vacancies in certain sectors with no qualified persons to take them up.  The gap between the requirements of the labour market and available qualifications, will be a growing problem as the economy gradually recovers. The continued efforts of bringing education, training and the labour market closer together should be reinforced at all levels and by all Member states."

“We need to invest more in human capital and adapt fast to future market trends. We need to adjust our education systems and training standards to the constant development of knowledge and skills required by the labour market in order to meet the lifelong learning targets and to tackle the existing skills mismatches.  Job opportunities and economic growth can only be achieved if the educational institution produce the   right qualifications for the right skills. This is a supply and demand formula we need to get right” added MEP MIzzi.

"As a shadow rapporteur I have made valid recommendations and proposed concrete initiatives focusing on young people and transition schemes from education to labour market, on early school-leavers and people with lower educational qualifications and skills. I have also asked for the creation of special career guidance to help people take the right decision in relation to their education and career choices. Last but not least, I will try to strengthen the role of informal, non-formal and transversal skills, such as entrepreneurship, ICT and languages.I have also recommended that this issue can be tacked at an early stage in the schools by providing extra curricular activities, and mind- opening visits to other countries so that we nurture a generation of young adults with a wider view of what their potential could be”  

“I am proud to represent my political group on this topic of paramount importance for Malta and I hope that my contributions will be taken on board not only by the Parliament but also by the Commission and the Member States," Marlene Mizzi said.