Recital (16)

The Integrated Guidelines should serve as a basis for the country-specific recommendations that the Council addresses to Member States. Member States should make full use of the European Social Fund Plus, the European Regional Development Fund, the Recovery and Resilience Facility and other Union funds, including the Social Climate Fund, the Just Transition Fund and InvestEU, established by Regulation (EU) 2021/523 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as well as the Technical Support Instrument, in order to foster quality employment and social investments, fight poverty and social exclusion, combat discrimination, ensure accessibility and inclusion, and promote upskilling and reskilling opportunities for the workforce, lifelong learning and high-quality education and training for all, including digital literacy and skills in order to empower citizens with the knowledge and qualifications required for a digital, green and competitive economy. The amendments introduced by Regulation (EU) 2024/795 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the Commission Communication on the modernised Cohesion policy: Mid-term review aim at aligning the support provided to new strategic priorities, including to address the shortage of skills in certain sectors, such as for the development and manufacturing of critical technologies, defence industry and sectors affected by decarbonisation and the green and digital transitions. Member States should also make full use of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers established by Regulation (EU) 2021/691 of the European Parliament and of the Council to support workers who have been made redundant as a result of major restructuring events, such as socioeconomic transformations that are the result of global trends and technological and environmental changes. While the Integrated Guidelines are addressed to Member States and to the Union, they should be implemented in partnership with all national, regional and local authorities, closely involving national parliaments, as well as the social partners and representatives of civil society.