Union of Skills – adopted
On 5 March 2025, the Commission presented the Union of Skills, a key initiative of the European Commission. It comes in the first 100 days, soon after the adoption of the Competitiveness Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal, due to the fundamental role skills play in Europe’s competitiveness and sustainable prosperity.
The Union of Skills sets out a comprehensive strategy to address skills and labour gaps across the EU. It provides a holistic vision of skills acquired at all levels, at all ages, no matter how and where they were acquired, including across borders. It provides a unified vision, bringing all elements together – action, investment and governance. It connects the dots, seeks to transcend silos and amplify. It highlights that skills are a collective responsibility.
The Union of Skills focuses on action under four strands: building skills for quality jobs and lives; upskilling and reskilling an agile workforce; circulating skills unlocking the single market’s full potential; and attracting, developing, and retaining talent. It strengthens existing initiatives and introduces new action, where needed.
The Union of Skills will frame the work of the Commission on skills for this entire mandate. The set of actions announced reflect an ambitious and comprehensive approach to skills policy in the EU.
You may be interested in particular in the strand on upskilling and reskilling, as well as the chapter on investment and governance. The Union of Skills Communication is accompanied by an Action Plan on Basic Skills and a STEM Education Strategic Plan.
Links: