diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 2be13a169b..aa475c9ab2 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ variables:
   BATCH_BUILD: "1"
   V: "0"
   CHECKOUT_REF_SCRIPT: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR/tools/ci/checkout_project_ref.py"
+  PYTHON_VER: 3.7.10
 
   # Docker images
   BOT_DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG: ":latest"
diff --git a/.gitlab/ci/build.yml b/.gitlab/ci/build.yml
index 02dbd0386a..04c14a6274 100644
--- a/.gitlab/ci/build.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/ci/build.yml
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@
   needs:
     - job: fast_template_app
       artifacts: false
-  variables:
-    PYTHON_VER: 3.7.10
   artifacts:
     paths:
       - "**/build*/size.json"
@@ -262,7 +260,6 @@ build_ssc_esp32s3:
     OUTPUT_PATH: ${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/tools/unit-test-app/output
     BUILD_SYSTEM: "cmake"
     TEST_TYPE: "unit_test"
-    PYTHON_VER: 3.7.10
     LDGEN_CHECK_MAPPING: 1
   script:
     - ${IDF_PATH}/tools/ci/find_apps_build_apps.sh
@@ -320,7 +317,6 @@ build_esp_idf_tests_cmake_esp32c3:
     TEST_TYPE: example_test
     LOG_PATH: ${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/log_${TEST_PREFIX}
     BUILD_PATH: ${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/build_${TEST_PREFIX}
-    PYTHON_VER: 3.7.10
     LDGEN_CHECK_MAPPING: 1
   script:
     # it's not possible to build 100% out-of-tree and have the "artifacts"
diff --git a/.gitlab/ci/docs.yml b/.gitlab/ci/docs.yml
index c919556d7c..9a17a99145 100644
--- a/.gitlab/ci/docs.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/ci/docs.yml
@@ -57,8 +57,6 @@ check_docs_lang_sync:
 
 .build_docs_template:
   image: $ESP_IDF_DOC_ENV_IMAGE
-  variables:
-    PYTHON_VER: 3.7.10
   tags:
     - build_docs
   dependencies: []
@@ -73,8 +71,6 @@ check_docs_lang_sync:
 
 check_docs_gh_links:
   image: $ESP_IDF_DOC_ENV_IMAGE
-  variables:
-    PYTHON_VER: 3.7.10
   extends:
     - .pre_check_job_template
     - .doc-rules:build:docs
@@ -156,7 +152,6 @@ build_docs_pdf:
     - .before_script_no_sync_submodule
   image: $ESP_IDF_DOC_ENV_IMAGE
   variables:
-    PYTHON_VER: 3.7.10
     DOCS_BUILD_DIR: "${IDF_PATH}/docs/_build/"
     PYTHONUNBUFFERED: 1
   stage: test_deploy
diff --git a/.gitlab/ci/host-test.yml b/.gitlab/ci/host-test.yml
index 5e842a9866..98f03a9aaa 100644
--- a/.gitlab/ci/host-test.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/ci/host-test.yml
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
   extends: .rules:test:host_test
   stage: host_test
   image: $ESP_ENV_IMAGE
-  variables:
-    PYTHON_VER: 3.7.10
   tags:
     - host_test
   dependencies: []
diff --git a/.gitlab/ci/pre_check.yml b/.gitlab/ci/pre_check.yml
index 7718af3ec3..eb093791db 100644
--- a/.gitlab/ci/pre_check.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/ci/pre_check.yml
@@ -51,8 +51,6 @@ check_python_style:
   extends:
     - .pre_check_base_template
     - .rules:patterns:python-files
-  variables:
-    PYTHON_VER: 3.7.10
   artifacts:
     when: on_failure
     paths:
@@ -63,8 +61,6 @@ check_python_style:
 
 test_check_kconfigs:
   extends: .pre_check_job_template
-  variables:
-    PYTHON_VER: 3.7.10
   artifacts:
     when: on_failure
     paths: