PES Network Board elects new Chair and discusses key initiatives

During the 23^rd Board Meeting of the European Public Employment Services (PES) Network, hosted by the Polish Presidency on 5-6 June 2025 in Warsaw, Heads of PES came together to elect a new Chair and developed a joint contribution to the new European Pillar of Social Rights Action plan. They also exchanged on priorities including cybersecurity, AI and return labour mobility.

The 23^rd Board Meeting elected the new PES Network Chair, Spiros Protopsaltis, Governor of the Greek PES. With experience leading large-scale reforms on improving service delivery and performance, Spiros Protopsaltis will steer the Network over the next two years. The new Chair’s priorities emphasise digital innovation, social cohesion, and PES as drivers of economic growth and resilience.

Stefan Olsson, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission’s DG Employment Social Affairs and Inclusion provided updates on key policy initiatives including the Union of Skills, the upcoming Labour Mobility Package and the new European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) Action Plan. Board members finalised the forthcoming PES Network contribution to the Action Plan, highlighting the need to step up support to groups underrepresented on the labour market. 

Following a presentation by the Polish NASK institute on cybersecurity, Members exchanged on their cybersecurity approach and AI strategies, including joint efforts to develop a common framework on Ethical Standards of AI in PES and build capacity on PES digitalisation processes (via two PES Network working groups).

The role of skills in alleviating barriers and addressing skills and labour shortages was a key item on the agenda. The presentation of the SkillsPULSE project expert touched upon on skills forecasting and labour shortage anticipation. This was followed by a discussion of Board members on the effectiveness of activation policies to support higher participation of workers aged 55 and above, outreach of those outside the labour force and the role of digital skills in supporting the inclusion of underrepresented groups. 

On Day 2, Board members were informed about key trends and challenges of the Polish labour market and the role of the Polish PES in driving change through labour market reforms. They discussed how Public Employment Services can leverage support to workers coming back to their home countries after working abroad (e.g. ‘return mobility’) to address labour shortages. The PES Network took stock of cooperation with enlargement countries and discussed the future Benchlearning calendar. The meeting closed after a hand-over from the Polish to the Danish PES, who presented priorities of their upcoming Presidency.

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