EARLALL’s contribution to the upcoming CoR opinion on Skills for the Future
01/09/2026
EARLALL has been contributing to the development of the forthcoming European Committee of the Regions (CoR) opinion “Skills for the Future”, led by rapporteur Karolien Grosemans. Following an invitation from the SEDEC Commission, EARLALL held a bilateral meeting with the rapporteur and her team on 26 August 2026, ahead of the stakeholder consultation on 31 August, which EARLALL also joined. These exchanges provided an opportunity to highlight the strategic role of regional and local authorities in shaping Europe’s skills agenda in the context of rapid technological change and the rise of AI‑driven labour markets.
The opinion is expected to be presented and put to vote at the CoR Plenary in October 2026, scheduled around 12 October, marking the final step before its formal adoption. EARLALL’s early engagement ensures that regional perspectives are fully reflected in the text ahead of this decisive moment.
After the bilateral meeting, EARLALL submitted a concise set of illustrative examples drawn from member regions, structured around three pillars we consider essential for a future‑proof skills strategy: (1) Provision of STEM/AI skills, (2) Inclusiveness, and (3) Territorial skills ecosystems.
A snapshot of regional innovation across Europe
The examples shared with the rapporteur demonstrate the breadth of regional action across Europe. They include advanced STEM and AI‑related training models such as the Basque Country’s Tknika system—where “8 technological monitoring nodes and 19 specialisation areas translate emerging tech trends into curricula”—and Tuscany’s industry‑driven ITS Academies. They also highlight inclusive approaches like Västra Götaland’s rural higher‑education access through Campus Dalsland and Brittany’s decentralised tiers‑lieux apprenants. Finally, they showcase robust territorial governance structures, from Baden‑Württemberg’s Alliance for Lifelong Learning to Brittany’s multi‑tier CTEFI committees and Vestland’s Kompetanseforum Vestland. Together, these examples illustrate how regions are already delivering the skills needed for the AI era while ensuring territorial cohesion and coordinated lifelong learning ecosystems.
EARLALL’s message to the CoR
Across all contributions, EARLALL emphasised a clear point: Skills for the future cannot be reduced to curriculum content or AI literacy alone.
The three pillars presented to the rapporteur underline that:
- Regions are key innovators in STEM/AI provision.
- Territorial fairness and access are essential to ensure no community is left behind.
- Skills ecosystems and multi‑stakeholder governance are indispensable for effective lifelong learning.
EARLALL will continue supporting the rapporteur’s work as the opinion advances toward its adoption at the October Plenary, ensuring that regional and local authorities remain recognised as essential actors in Europe’s skills transformation.