On 15 November 2023, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Regulation establishing an EU Talent Pool. The Talent Pool aims to be an EU-wide online platform matching profiles of jobseekers from outside the EU with job vacancies for shortage occupations of EU employers. Jobseekers from third countries are able to register their profiles on the Talent Pool platform and provide information about their skills, qualifications, work experience, and language knowledge. The platform also contains job vacancies from employers in the EU (in participating Member States).

On 13 June 2024, the Council agreed its position on the above-mentioned proposal, including on the following elements:

• In line with the Commission proposal, participation in the Talent Pool will remain voluntary for Member States. However, the Council decided that when Member States decide to join the scheme, they should indicate which entities are allowed to take part in the Talent Pool – employers, temporary work agencies, private employment agencies or labour market intermediaries.
   
• The Council has also put in place a withdrawal procedure, with clear rules and a number of safeguards to ensure stability in the system. According to the Council, a participating Member State may withdraw from the EU Talent Pool at any time. However, it must notify its decision to the Commission not later than 6 months before the desired exit date. 

The Council will now be able to start negotiations with the European Parliament to find agreement on the final legislation.

For further details, please read the press release from the Council of the EU.