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The Council of the European Union gave its final approval on March 30 to the regulation establishing the EU Talent Reserve, a digital platform that will connect job seekers from non-EU countries with European employers facing labor shortages.
The initiative, proposed by the European Commission in November 2023 and adopted by the European Parliament on March 10, is expected to be fully operational by 2027.
The platform operates as a digital matchmaking system: candidates from third countries residing outside the EU will be able to create free profiles in the Europass style, detailing skills, qualifications, work experience, and language knowledge.
Participation is voluntary for both member states and candidates.
The European Commission estimates that between 11 and 20 countries from the bloc will join by 2030.
A key aspect: the platform does not issue visas or work permits.
According to the official statement from the Council, "job seekers from third countries who receive a job offer through the EU Talent Pool will have to go through national immigration procedures to obtain a residence and work permit."
The tool includes safeguards to prevent labor exploitation and will inform candidates about their rights regarding fair hiring practices.
The use will be free for job seekers, and employers cannot charge hidden fees.
Nicholas Ioannides, Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection of Cyprus, emphasized that "the EU Talent Pool will help address the labor shortage across Europe," and that "it will enhance the competitiveness of the EU by making it easier for employers to access job seekers from third countries with the necessary skills."
The sectors with the greatest worker shortages -and where candidates will have the most opportunities- include electricians, welders, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, farmers, and truck drivers, according to the EURES report from July 2025.
For Cubans, this platform represents an unprecedented legal and institutional avenue to access the European labor market.
Cuba is a third country not belonging to the EU, which means that its citizens residing outside the bloc are eligible to register without restrictions based on their country of origin.
Since 2022, more than a million Cubans have left the island in the largest migration wave in its history, driven by the socioeconomic crisis affecting the country.
Spain has established itself as the second major hub of the Cuban diaspora: in 2025, at least 27,000 Cubans registered in the European country, raising the total number of Cuban residents to over 160,000 people.
Cuban professionals trained in health, engineering, construction, or transportation are in high demand. Germany, for instance, is seeking to address a shortage of around 400,000 professionals in sectors such as engineering, information technology, health, and skilled trades.
The Talent Reserve complements existing tools such as the EU Blue Card, which requires a university degree and a high minimum salary -in Germany, 50,700 euros gross per year-, putting it out of reach for many emigrants.
The new platform, on the other hand, is open to all sectors with shortages, not just to those who are highly skilled.
Those who are interested must wait for the platform to be operational in 2027, although they can already prepare by gathering documentation regarding their qualifications, work experience, and knowledge of European languages, factors that will determine the visibility of their profile to participating employers.
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