Go back

The new Education and Skills Package and European VET Strategy

09/11/2026

On 5 November 2026, the European Commission presented its new Education and Skills Package, as part of the Union of Skills. The package sets out four priorities for strengthening education and training across Europe, including the modernisation of vocational education and training (VET).

The Education and Skills Package aims to help EU countries accelerate reforms and support learners, teachers and schools in achieving better results. It responds to key challenges facing European education systems, including declining basic skills, technological developments and artificial intelligence, teacher shortages, and changing labour market needs.

The Commission has identified four priorities for stronger education and training:

  • Stronger basic skills for every learner: improving reading, mathematics, science, digital and citizenship skills.
  • Better and safer use of technology for education: supporting the responsible use of digital tools and artificial intelligence in learning environments.
  • A more attractive and supported teaching profession: strengthening teachers’ working conditions, professional development and support.
  • Modernising vocational education and training: making VET more flexible, attractive and responsive to changing skills needs.

A new European VET Strategy

Under the fourth priority, the European Commission presented its new European Vocational Education and Training (VET) Strategy, setting out 10 initiatives under three main objectives:

  1. More flexible and higher-quality VET systems, keeping pace with technological developments and changing skills needs.
  2. Stronger links between VET, businesses and strategic sectors, encouraging closer cooperation between training providers and industry.
  3. Making VET more European and international, supporting learning mobility and cooperation beyond national borders.

Among the proposed initiatives are a European Sectoral Training Accelerator, which will pilot short and flexible training modules developed together with industry from 2027; new VET-business partnerships to establish training centres; and an EU mobility marketplace to facilitate training opportunities abroad for VET learners and apprentices.

The strategy aims to strengthen the capacity of vocational education and training systems to respond to skills shortages, support innovation and prepare learners for careers in sectors undergoing significant transformation.

Bringing regional perspectives into the European discussion

The implementation of these priorities will require cooperation across different levels of governance. Regions and local authorities have an important role in connecting education and training providers, employers, public authorities and other local stakeholders, ensuring that skills development responds to territorial needs and labour market realities.

EARLALL and its members participated in the consultation webinars organised by the European Commission in preparation for the new VET Strategy, contributing regional perspectives and experiences to the discussion on the future of vocational education and training in Europe.

Through its activities and cooperation with European institutions and networks, EARLALL will continue to follow the development and implementation of the Education and Skills Package, with particular attention to the opportunities and implications for its member regions.

The European Education and Skills Package will also be an important reference for EARLALL’s 2027 Action Plan, particularly in relation to lifelong learning, vocational education and training, regional skills ecosystems and cooperation between education and training organisations.

Looking ahead: On 20 November 2026, the European Commission will host the European Education and Skills Summit in Brussels, bringing together EU countries and relevant stakeholders to launch the implementation of the Package.

Further information: