Celebrating One Year of the Union of Skills: Concrete Actions for Europe

5 March 2026 marked one year since the launch of the Union of Skills, an initiative aimed at strengthening Europe’s competitiveness. As the European economy continues to evolve through green and digital transitions, skills have become a critical driver of innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth. By investing in people, tackling labour shortages, and promoting education, training, and lifelong learning, the Union of Skills supports this transformation.

Over the past year, it has delivered concrete action, supporting workers and businesses, reinforcing cooperation with Member States, industry and education providers, and building a strong governance framework.

What actions were taken so far

The EU has started delivering on its new skills strategy, with a series of new initiatives:

The €14.5 million Skills Guarantee Pilot supports automotive workers at risk of unemployment while helping businesses address labour shortages in key sectors.
A first-ever Council Recommendation on human capital will guide Member States to boost investment and reforms in education and skills.
Former Commissioner Ylva Johansson now chairs the European Skills High-Level Board, bringing together key stakeholders to tackle skills gaps.
The European Skills Intelligence Observatory provides data and foresight on skills needs, supporting evidence-based policymaking.
With an Action Plan on Basic Skills, a STEM Education Strategic Plan, and the initiative Girls Go STEM, the EU has addressed declining performance in mathematics and science.
The “Choose Europe” pilot and a new Visa Strategy aim to attract and retain top international talent in research and education.

What’s next?

Looking ahead, the European Commission is set to expand the Union of Skills with a new wave of initiatives aimed at strengthening education systems and preparing Europe’s workforce for future challenges.

The Skills Portability Initiative will make it easier to recognise qualifications across borders, helping people move and work more freely across the EU.
A new European strategy for vocational education and training (VET) will aim to make technical careers more attractive and better aligned with labour market needs, as most shortage occupations are in these fields.
A Basic Skills Support Scheme will target children and young people struggling with literacy and digital skills.
A 2030 Roadmap on Digital Education will promote equal access to digital learning, alongside efforts to strengthen the use of AI in education and training.
An EU Teachers and Trainers Agenda will address staff shortages and improve working conditions in the education sector.

These new actions build on existing EU programmes and partnerships, strengthening the role of the Union of Skills in Europe’s long-term competitiveness and keeping people, education and skills at the heart of its economic and social transformation.

© European Commission