​​​​​​​​​On October 1, 2020, the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) met for the 4th time during their 2020-2025 mandate. The European Alliance coordinator for SEDEC, Mikel Irujo Amezaga, and the EA President, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, actively participated in the debate with Jean-Eric Paquet, Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission and in the exchange of views on the forthcoming Committee of Regions opinion European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience.  

Cllr Kieran McCarthy, Member of the Cork City Council, Ireland, took the floor in the discussion with Mr Jean-Eric Paquet to highlight the need to deliver practical implementation of scientific and technological innovation at the local and regional level as to strengthen cities and regions' capacities to face global challenges. Cllr McCarthy also called for more synergies between the existing EU level platforms for research and innovation and the work done at the municipal level.

Meanwhile, Mikel Irujo Amezaga, who serves as the Director-General for External Action at the Government of Navarre congratulated the forthcoming opinion on the European Skills Agenda for its progressive emphasis on social economy as means to build resilience to crises, further noting the key role that development of entrepreneurial and transversal skills plays in making the labour market less susceptible to potential shocks.