Have your say on skills mobility in the EU: public consultation launched on the Skills Portability Initiative

The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) of the European Commission has launched a public consultation on the Skills Portability Initiative (SPI), a policy designed to make it easier for people to use their skills and qualifications across the EU. Announced in the Union of Skills Communication, the initiative aims to help workers access opportunities and enable businesses to better benefit from the single market.

The initiative is part of the Commission Work Programme, which sets out the key strategies, action plans and legislative initiatives that will lay the foundation for the work ahead during this mandate and help deliver on our ambition to build a strong, secure, and prosperous Europe. The work programme is planned for Q3 2026 as part of the Fair Labour Mobility Package, but in the meantime, this broad consultation strategy is being rolled out to gather evidence.

A multifaceted approach 

The SPI is built around three interrelated actions. First, it explores a possible legislative proposal to support worker mobility by improving transparency of skills and qualifications and expanding digital tools. Second, it looks at measures to modernise and expand recognition processes for regulated professions. Third, it considers common EU rules to simplify how the skills and qualifications of third-country nationals are recognised.

Action 1: facilitating worker mobility across the EU through skills transparency and digitalisation

Having your skills and qualifications understood by employers in other EU Member States remains challenging, including because diplomas are often paper-based. This action consists of a potential legislative proposal to facilitate worker mobility through digitalisation and improved transparency of skills and qualifications. It aims to build on existing tools and explore the promotion of interoperable digital credentials, to facilitate worker mobility, enhance the single market, and make it easier for skills and qualifications to be understood and accepted across the EU.

Action 2: facilitating, modernising, and expanding recognition processes for regulated professions

EU rules on the recognition of professional qualifications facilitate the cross-border recognition of qualifications for EU citizens seeking access to regulated professions. However, the processes involved can still be lengthy, complicated, and costly, limiting the effectiveness of the single market. This action concerns potential measures to facilitate, modernise, and expand recognition processes for regulated professions. 

Action 3: simplifying the recognition of qualifications and skills of third-country nationals

National recognition procedures for third-country nationals are often slow and ineffective. They can prevent third-country nationals from accessing the labour market and reduce the EU’s attractiveness as a destination for skilled workers from abroad. This action involves a potential legislative proposal for common rules to simplify procedures for recognising the qualifications and skills of third-country nationals. It aims to simplify this recognition, helping to address labour and skills shortages in the EU. It would respect Member States’ competence in migration and regulation of professions.

The public consultation opened on 5 December 2025 and will run for 12 weeks, until 27 February 2026. Please participate and share! It will help ensure that the initiative reflects real needs and experiences across Europe.