Despite strong objections from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, the European Parliament today confirmed the negotiating mandate for the proposed EU Talent Pool, originally adopted by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE).

The ECR Group’s request to open the mandate to a plenary vote under Rule 72(2) was rejected.

ECR LIBE Coordinator and Shadow Rapporteur Assita Kanko MEP commented: “The talent pool should respond to very specific labour market needs, with a particular focus on attracting highly skilled professionals. But the current proposal lacks the necessary safeguards to ensure this.”

“We support the idea of attracting talent to Europe—but only with a system that is efficient, demand-driven, and aligned with national labour markets. Unfortunately, the Parliament has now given the green light to a very weak negotiating mandate. We now count on the Council to restore the balance.”

Another key concern for Kanko is the risk of creating more bureaucracy rather than delivering real opportunities.

She added: “Job advertisements shouldn’t require additional steps beyond what is already required at national level. At best, companies should be able to advertise their EU-based vacancies—which cannot be filled with local talent—across the world with a single click.”