Ceemet welcomes the Vocational Education & Training (VET) strategy that was agree in Riga. It re-focuses of the medium-term deliverables in VET, stressing the necessity of excellence in VET. But Ceemet minds to be cautions against pushing apprenticeships as a panacea for youth unemployment.

• Ceemet welcomes the re-focusing of the Bruges deliverables in vocational education and training (VET) through the Riga Conclusions and the recognition of the importance of VET for industrial competiveness, youth employment and overall growth and jobs.
• Good quality, flexible VET which has a strong component of work-based learning increases employment prospects.
• As the biggest sector of the manufacturing industry in Europe, dependent on vocational education and training, we strongly support the approach taken in the Presidency Conclusions of highlighting excellence in VET. This is absolutely correct and absolutely crucial in meeting labour market needs.