Call for Evidence - Quality education for all: a 2040 roadmap

The European Commission has opened a Call for Evidence to gather input for its upcoming Education Package, which includes the Quality education for all: a 2040 roadmap initiative, which aims to improve the performance of school education in the age of AI. It addresses structural issues focusing on basic skills decline, teacher shortages, limited digital capacity, and AI readiness..

Launched on 30 July 2026 by the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, this consultation is a first step in reshaping EU’s most significant education policy updates in recent years.

This feedback will directly inform the final package, which is expected to be presented in November 2026.

The 2040 Roadmap places a strong emphasis on modernising digital learning systems as artificial intelligence becomes embedded in classrooms. It aims to ensure human agency, inclusiveness and digital sovereignty in education, addressing concerns about the EU’s reliance on non-European technology providers.

Three strands under consultation

The Education Package builds on three interconnected strands, each open for evidence:

Strengthening basic skills and improving performance in school education: Tackling declining student outcomes in literacy, mathematics, science, digital skills and citizenship education
EU Teachers Agenda: Improving working conditions, career progression and the attractiveness of teaching amid growing shortages of qualified staff
Sovereign digital education infrastructure: Modernising learning systems with AI, while preserving European values and strategic autonomy.

A key deliverable will be a Commission Decision establishing the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) for education, to enable Member State‑led cooperation on secure, safe, accessible, and pedagogically sound digital education infrastructure. Actions will build on the EU‑OECD AI Literacy Framework to roll out AI literacy and skills, and embed wellbeing, media literacy, and online safety as core elements of modern education.

Contributors are asked to submit concrete evidence, which includes:

Examples of national or regional laws and policies addressing education challenges
Documented good practices already in use across Member States
Data and case studies that can inform EU-wide policy

Participants are asked to consider which digital tools, infrastructure, or practices currently support teaching and learning, and where you see the greatest need, challenges, and potential for European‑scale, digitally sovereign and accessible solutions.

Key dates

Call for Evidence launched: 30 July 2026
Consultation closes: 08 September 2026

The Commission would like to hear your views. This call for evidence is open for feedback. Your input will be taken into account as we develop and fine-tune this initiative.