MEP Assita Kanko welcomes pragmatic agreement on EU Talent Pool

Member of the European Parliament Assita Kanko has expressed strong satisfaction with the law adopted today on the EU Talent Pool, which she helped negotiate. The online platform will match jobseekers from outside the European Union with hard-to-fill vacancies for which no suitable candidates can be found within the EU. “This is a useful tool, not a backdoor for migration,” Assita Kanko said. “Europe is currently lagging behind in the global race for talent, and this final outcome can help our businesses remain competitive.”

The European Talent Pool will function as a platform where non-EU candidates can register by submitting their CV and skills profile. European companies will then be able to search for workers whose profiles they cannot find on their domestic labour markets.

Clear limits to prevent migration and abuse

Assita Kanko stresses that the agreement maintains a clear division of responsibilities while avoiding unintended incentives for migration:
“There are safeguards in place to prevent abuse. We are not loosening existing rules, and we are not touching the powers of Member States when it comes to labour migration. As a co-negotiator, I insisted on maintaining that line.”

The agreement clearly states that each Member State remains responsible for visas, work permits, labour market tests and all migration procedures. In addition, several safeguards are included:

• participating employers must be legally established in the Member State concerned;
• a register will list companies that violate the rules;
• inactive and fraudulent profiles will be removed;
• jobseekers will be explicitly informed that registration does not guarantee entry to or residence in an EU Member State.

Not bureaucracy, but a practical tool for businesses

“Our businesses are under significant pressure and need solutions that are simple, transparent and secure. The final legal text focuses on practical needs and avoids unnecessary bureaucracy. In the global race for talent, this will be an additional tool for our companies,” concludes MEP Assita Kanko.