Commission launches a new programme to support EU-Pakistan Talent Partnership

The European Commission has launched a new programme to support a Talent Partnership between the EU and Pakistan. Launched on 26 November, this initiative aims to boost international mobility and cooperation on labour migration by better matching EU countries' labour market needs with Pakistan's talent.

Through a collaborative Team Europe approach, the Talent Partnership brings together Pakistan, interested EU countries, and the European Commission to identify common needs and joint actions. This strategic framework enables the EU, its Member States, and Pakistan to develop a coherent set of actions on labour mobility and skills development. To address skill needs in selected sectors, it will offer pre-departure measures such as vocational training, language courses, counselling, and skill recognition.

The programme is funded with EUR 3 million from the EU.

Background

In June 2021, the European Commission launched Talent Partnerships to address EU skill shortages. Since then, five partnerships have been signed with Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

These initiatives not only match non-EU workers' skills with EU labour market needs but also involve partner countries in managing migration and preventing irregular migration. As a key tool for embedding migration in international partnerships, Talent Partnerships are a cornerstone of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling, launched by the Commission in November 2023.