Building skills for quality lives and jobs  

Building skills, education, and training is essential for creating good jobs and improving lives. The Union of Skills aims to

• pilot a Basic Skills Support Scheme, so that every young person has strong reading, maths, science, and digital skills
• improve skills in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM), promote STEM careers, attract more women, and prepare people for digital and clean-tech transitions, with the STEM education strategic plan
• introduce a new EU Vocational Education and Training (VET) Strategy to make vocational education and training more attractive, innovative, and inclusive

Regular upskilling and reskilling

Learning new skills should be a regular part of people’s professional lives to keep up with evolving economies and ensure lifelong learning. 

The Commission will

• propose to expand the use of micro-credentials as flexible learning solutions
• reinforce the Pact for Skills to help more workers gain new skills in strategic sectors
• pilot a Skills Guarantee to offer workers at risk of unemployment the opportunity to gain new skills

The EU will support the roll-out of EU Skills Academies to provide businesses with the skills needed for the green transition and the Clean Industrial Deal. 

Helping the free movement of workers 

Circulating skills across the EU will unlock the full potential of the Single Market. The Union of Skills focuses on 

• a Skills portability initiative, to enhance the portability of skills and qualifications across the EU, independently of where they were acquired 
• working towards a European degree to facilitate the development of innovative joint study programmes across the EU
• a new European VET diploma 
• strengthening European Universities alliances and Centres of Vocational Excellence
• European School Alliances to enhance teacher and student mobility

Attracting, developing, and retaining talent

Europe must attract, develop, and keep top talent crucial for innovation, growth, and competitiveness. 

The Commission will

• set up an EU Talent Pool for the recruitment of jobseekers from outside the EU at all skills levels, especially for jobs facing skill shortages
• present a Visa Strategy to make it easier for top students, skilled workers, and researchers to come to the EU
• launch a ‘Choose Europe’ initiative under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions to attract and retain talent