5 March 2026 marked the first anniversary of the Union of Skills, a flagship initiative to make Europe more competitive.
As Europe’s economy transforms through the green and digital transitions, skills are a decisive factor for competitiveness, innovation and resilience. The Union of Skills helps Europe invest in people, address labour shortages, and support the transitions through education, training and lifelong learning.
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 the Union of Skills has delivered so far
The EU has started delivering on its new skills strategy, with a series of new initiatives:
- With a budget of €14.5 million, the Skills Guarantee Pilot focusses on workers from the car industry and its supply chain who are at risk of unemployment. The new scheme is open for applications and will support workers and businesses and tackle labour shortages in strategic and growing sectors.
- For the first time ever, the Commission proposed a Council Recommendation on human capital. Once adopted by EU employment and social affairs ministers at their meeting on 9 March, it will support EU countries in prioritising education and skills investment and reforms to tackle structural challenges that hamper Europe’s competitiveness in strategic sectors.
- The Commission appointed former Commissioner Ylva Johansson to chair the European Skills High-Level Board. The Board will bring together businesses, education, training providers and social partners for advice on how to tackle skills shortages in Europe.
- The European Skills Intelligence Observatory, run by the Commission, has started its work to provide data and foresight on skills needs, including in strategic sectors and how this aligns with the skills generated by our education and training systems. It feeds into the work of the European Skills High-Level Board.
- 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 launch of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action ‘Choose Europe’ Pilot aims to improve working conditions and retain top researchers in Europe. At the same time, the EU’s new Visa Strategy streamlines the arrival of top students and researchers.
Upcoming actions under the Union of Skills
Looking ahead, the Commission will continue to deepen the Union of Skills through new initiatives.
- The Skills Portability Initiative will make the recognition of skills across borders easier, so that people can move to new countries and new opportunities together with their skills and qualifications.
- Modernising education and training systems is central to the Union of Skills. Six out of seven shortage occupations in the EU are in vocational/technical fields. To help address this gap, the Commission is preparing a new European strategy for vocational education and training (VET) to make VET more attractive, innovative and aligned with labour market needs.
- A Basic Skills Support Scheme will help Member States support children and young people who struggle with literacy and digital skills.
- A 2030 Roadmap on Digital Education will support equal access to digital education. A related initiative will strengthen AI in education and training.
- The upcoming EU Teachers and Trainers Agenda will help tackle teaching shortages and improve working conditions.
Ongoing EU action to support skills and education
The Union of Skills is building on existing EU initiatives and partnerships. Together, these existing, new and upcoming actions underscore how the Union of Skills is a central pillar of Europe’s long-term competitiveness agenda. It ensures that people and skills remain at the heart of the EU’s economic and social transformation.
Pact for Skills
The Pact for Skills has now expanded to 4000 members, 20 large-scale skills partnerships covering all strategic sectors in the EU, and 22 regional skills partnerships.
As announced in the Union of Skills, the Pact for Skills is being streamlined and reinforced. The aim is to align its strategic objectives with the Competitiveness Compass and ensure that skills development supports Europe’s broader goals – whether in green innovation, digital sovereignty, or industrial leadership.
European Alliance for Apprenticeships
Closer integration with the European Alliance for Apprenticeships will bridge the gap between work-based learning, and upskilling and reskilling. It will also help streamline the support services offered to companies investing in apprenticeships and/or training and skill development of the workforce.
The link between Pact membership and EU funding will be reinforced. The Pact’s toolbox includes:
- Erasmus+ Blueprint Alliances
- Centres of Vocational Excellence
- future VET Business Partnerships
- EU Skills Academies
- European University Alliances
Net-zero industry academies
In addition, two new ‘Net-zero industry academies’ on wind and hydrogen will be rolled out. At the same time, we are reviewing existing EU Skills Academies to identify what has worked best so far. This will help deliver future academies based on the most successful models.
Individual Learning Accounts
The Union of Skills also takes the roll-out of Individual Learning Accounts across Europe to the next level. These virtual wallets with training entitlements for individuals are now being piloted or are planned by half of all EU Member States to make it easier for people so upgrade their skills or learn new ones.
