What changed

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

P10_TA(2026)0058

The Rapporteur considers that the Commission proposal for a Talent Pool should be welcomed, as it could complement the Union’s other efforts to engage with non-EU country partners strategically on migration management and accelerate progress to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 8 to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all and SDG 10 on reduced inequalities. The proposal is in line with the objectives of the Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 June 2021 establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-GE Regulation) including the provisions laid down in Recitals 50 and 51, and previous positions of the Committee on Development, e.g., that well-designed and well-managed legal migration policies can be a source of innovation and economic development, beneficial for both countries of origin and host countries. The Talent Pool can help the EU and its Member States to fill skills gaps in EU-wide shortage occupations, broaden employers’ access to a diverse array of skills and talents, and create mutual gains for the EU and third country partners. The Talent Pool adds value to emerging Talent Partnerships and could enhance engagement from Member States, which is needed to fully unlock the potential of these partnerships, creating win-win situations for all partners involved.

EU Talent Pool

The EU Talent Pool will be the first EU-wide platform aimed at facilitating international recruitment and providing opportunities for jobseekers from third countries that are interested and have the skills required to work in EU-wide shortage occupations. The initiative is voluntary, thus leaving the Member States a choice to join it or not. It is assumed that between 11 and 20 Member States will join by 2030, with further Member States joining afterwards.

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

The Rapporteur acknowledges that the Talent Pool regulation can address only some of the obstacles to exploiting the potential of mutually beneficial labour migration between the EU and developing countries. It is only one piece in a wider set of legislative and policy measures at EU and Member State level required to make labour migration successful, such as those for enabling recognition of qualifications and validation of skills and for facilitating legal migrants’ inclusion and integration into society. The Talent Pool builds on and complements development cooperation programmes that enhance the development of skills and competences, education and vocational training and are financed through the NDICI-GE Instrument. The Rapporteur considers that, where relevant, information on opportunities for the development of skills and competences, as well as education and vocational training provided through development cooperation programmes should be available to jobseekers participating in the EU Talent Pool.

PE766.973

The Rapporteur stresses that the EU Talent Pool IT platform must be simple to navigate in practice. Eligibility and selection criteria should be transparent, non-discriminatory and allow for the admissibility of jobseekers with all skill levels. Jobseekers from third countries wishing to register in the Talent Pool should have easy access to information on how to create a profile. It should be easy for jobseekers to know what jobs they are eligible for and for employers to recognise foreign credentials. Information should be written in an understandable language, including preferably the official languages of the countries participating in a Talent Partnership.

European Parliament legislative resolution of 10 March 2026 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an EU talent pool (COM(2023)0716 – C9-0413/2023 – 2023/0404(COD))

The Rapporteur considers that the Talent Pool is in line with the general principle of the NDICI-GE Regulation to pursue a more coordinated, holistic and structured approach to migration with partners. Furthermore, the Rapporteur welcomes that the EU Talent Pool should contribute to the objective of discouraging irregular migration, including by facilitating access to existing legal pathways, which complements development cooperation programmes that address the root causes of migration and forced displacement. The Rapporteur considers it important that jobseekers participating in the EU Talent Pool should also have easy access to information on relevant procedures following the selection process, as well as information on assistance available to migrants wishing to return to their home countries, including on support for reintegration in the context of Talent Partnerships with developing countries.

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The rapporteur believes that the Talent Pool must comply with the principle of Policy Coherence for Development, as stipulated in Article 208 TFEU, fully exploiting the synergies with EU’s development cooperation. When reviewing the implementation of the Talent Pool, the Commission should therefore take into account the impact of the Regulation on the objectives of EU development cooperation.

The European Parliament,

AMENDMENTS

– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2023)0716),

The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible, to take the following into account:

– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 79(2), point (a), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C90413/2023),

Amendment 1

– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Proposal for a regulation

– having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 25 April 2024,

Recital 3 a (new)

– having regard to the provisional agreement approved by the committee responsible under Rule 75(4) of its Rules of Procedure and the undertaking given by the Council representative by letter of 28 November 2025 to approve Parliament’s position, in accordance with Article 294(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Or. en

– having regard to Rule 60 of its Rules of Procedure,

Amendment 2

– having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Development, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Culture and Education,

Proposal for a regulation

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (A10-0045/2025),

Recital 7

1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

Or. en

2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

Amendment 3

3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Proposal for a regulation

P10_TC1-COD(2023)0404

Recital 16

Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 10 March 2026 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2026/… of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an EU Talent Pool

Or. en

(As an agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position corresponds to the final legislative act, Regulation (EU) 2026/1047.)

Amendment 4

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 17

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Amendment 5

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 23

Or. en

Amendment 6

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 28

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Amendment 7

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 29

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Amendment 8

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 36

Or. en

Amendment 9

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 2 (a) (new)

Or. en

Amendment 10

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point (e)

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Amendment 11

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 4

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Amendment 12

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point (ea) (new)

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Amendment 13

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point (eb) (new)

Or. en

Amendment 14

Proposal for a regulation

Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point (fa) (new)

Or. en

Amendment 15

Proposal for a regulation

Article 23

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