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Europe Launches the Union of Skills

06/03/2025

The European Commission has officially adopted the Union of Skills, as part of the Pact for European Social Dialogue this week in Brussels (March 2025). This initiative, introduced at the EU Social Forum 2025 by Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs, and Preparedness, represents a comprehensive effort to improve skills development, workforce mobility, and job quality across the European Union.

The Union of Skills emerges from a consultation process, incorporating insights from previous forums and stakeholder discussions. Vice-President Mînzatu emphasised that this initiative is a “living product” rather than a rigid framework, continuously evolving based on real-world feedback and new labor market challenges.

At the core of the Union of Skills is the commitment to “Skilling Europe”—ensuring that European workers are equipped with the necessary competencies to navigate a rapidly changing labour landscape. The initiative is structured around four key pillars:

  1. Enhancing Basic Skills: Recognizing the urgent need to address foundational skills gaps, the Commission is expanding the Basic Skills Package with the Action Plan on Basic Skills to cover a broader set of competencies. A pilot support scheme will be launched to help young people and adults improve their basic skills over the medium to long term, in collaboration with member states and education providers.
  2. Reskilling and Upskilling for Disruptions: With rapid technological and industrial shifts, Europe must ensure that its workforce can quickly adapt. This pillar focuses on developing responsive training programs tailored to the needs of businesses and workers, supporting mid-career transitions and lifelong learning.
  3. Facilitating Labor Market Mobility: The Union of Skills aims to make it easier for workers to move across the EU by streamlining the recognition of qualifications and skills. The upcoming Skills Portability Initiative, set to launch in 2026, will address the bureaucratic challenges related to cross-border diploma and skill recognition. Looking ahead, initiatives such as the European Degree, European Universities Alliances. The Commission will also work towards a potential European VET diploma for vocational education and training.
  4. Attracting and Retaining Global Talent: As Europe faces demographic shifts and sectoral job deficits, the Union of Skills includes measures to attract highly skilled workers from outside the EU. The EU Talent Pool will help match job seekers from third countries with employment opportunities within the Union, complemented by targeted efforts to support underrepresented groups, including women and Roma communities. The initiative also includes pilot scholarships for researchers from non-EU countries, making it easier for top global talent to contribute to Europe’s economy.

A robust governance structure underpins the Union of Skills, ensuring that policies remain dynamic and responsive. The newly established European Skills High-Level Board will engage industry leaders, educational institutions, and policymakers in shaping the future of workforce development. Additionally, the creation of an EU Skills Intelligence Observatory, administered by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), will provide real-time data to anticipate skills shortages and inform policy decisions.

For regional and local authorities, the Union of Skills presents significant opportunities. Local governments can leverage these initiatives to design tailored training programs that align with their economic needs, ensuring a skilled workforce for local industries. By participating in EU-wide labor mobility and skills recognition programs, regions can attract talent and address sector-specific workforce shortages. Moreover, access to EU skills data and forecasting tools will empower policymakers to make informed decisions about education, employment, and economic development.

The launch of the Union of Skills marks a decisive moment for Europe’s social and economic future. By fostering stronger social dialogue, investing in lifelong learning, and facilitating cross-border workforce mobility, the initiative aims to create a more resilient, competitive, and inclusive labour market—one that is prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.

EARLALL, as a network committed to fostering regional and local cooperation in education and training, aims to collaborate with European institutions and civil society organizations to support the ambitious actions set forth by the Union of Skills. Through joint efforts, EARLALL seeks to contribute to the effective implementation of these initiatives, ensuring that regions and local authorities play a vital role in shaping the future of skills development in Europe.

Questions and answers on the Union of Skills