EARLALL holds first Board Meeting of the year
10/04/2025
Today, EARLALL held its first Board meeting of the year in a hybrid format, both in Bilbao and online. This meeting marked the first official gathering of the Board following the General Assembly held in Barcelona.
The meeting was chaired by Madeleine Jonsson, President of the Environment and Regional Development Committee from Region Västra Götaland, which holds the EARLALL Presidency. The Board of Directors is composed of representatives from the Basque Country, Tuscany, Baden-Württemberg, Catalonia, and Varaždin County, all present in the meeting. The session took place in parallel with the VET Summit organised by the Basque Country Government, underlining the importance of connecting policy discussions with on-the-ground developments in vocational education and training.
During the meeting, Board members discussed the key priorities for their regions amid a complex and challenging global context. It was widely acknowledged that economic uncertainty and its impact on regional budgets and industries require coordinated responses and shared strategies.
The Board also reviewed EARLALL’s annual priorities, which were approved during the General Assembly in Barcelona. Members confirmed that implementation is progressing well. Additionally, discussions were held around the roles and responsibilities of new positions within the Board, Vice President for Policy and Advocacy, Vice President for European Projects and Initiatives and Vice President for Membership Engagement and Outreach.
The EARLALL Secretariat also provided an update on EU policy developments at the European level. Topics covered included the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the related public consultation, as well as the latest deliverables under the Union of Skills initiative. The Secretariat explained EARLALL’s ongoing advocacy efforts to raise the profile of regions within the governance structures of the Union of Skills. Members were also informed about EARLALL’s active presence in the European Parliament’s Intergroup on the Future of Education and Skills and preparations for EARLALL’s involvement in the EU Regions Week 2025.
The meeting concluded with a policy open session featuring a presentation from Cedefop by Ralph Hippe on the “Regional Skills Ecosystems Index,” offering valuable insights to inform regional strategies in education and training.
This Board meeting marked a strong start to the year, reinforcing EARLALL’s commitment to advancing regional cooperation, sharing best practices, and navigating common challenges together.
