EARLALL

On 12 March 2026, experts and policymakers gathered for the event “Talent Booster Mechanism (TBM) Working Group Experts Share Insights: Boosting Talent Through Innovation, Skills and Quality of Life”, organised in the framework of the Talent Booster Mechanism (TBM) under the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO).

The event marked the conclusion of two and a half years of collaborative work, bringing together 88 experts from 22 European countries across regional authorities, research institutions, industry and policy organisations, including EARLALL. The TBM initiative explored ways to address demographic challenges and talent shortages, particularly in regions facing population decline or difficulties in attracting and retaining skilled people.

Innovation and digitalisation for regional talent

The first session focused on innovation and digitalisation as key drivers of regional transformation. A self-assessment tool, developed by the Digital and Research & Innovation Working Groups, was presented to help regions evaluate their readiness to attract, retain, and develop talent. The tool identifies strengths and gaps across innovation ecosystems, governance, skills systems, and essential services, allowing regions to reflect and compare themselves with peers.

Speakers highlighted ongoing challenges, including infrastructure and connectivity gaps, especially in rural areas, and a mismatch between digital skills supply and labour market demand. Strengthening collaboration among training providers, public authorities, and employers was emphasised as critical for building effective regional digital skills ecosystems.

Another key output was a practical guide for SMEs, providing strategies and examples to help small and medium-sized enterprises adopt digital solutions, enhance innovation, and strengthen regional economic resilience.

Knowledge valorisation and place-based skills strategies

The event also showcased the Toolkit on Knowledge Valorisation at the Regional Level, developed by the Research & Innovation Working Group with contributions from EARLALL. Presented by ART-ER Attractiveness Research Territory (Emilia-Romagna), the toolkit offers guidance on transforming research into economic and societal value, highlighting governance models, collaboration mechanisms, and skills needed for innovation ecosystems.

Complementing this work, TBM experts presented policy recommendations on assessing skills needs and developing skills within place-based innovation strategies. Recommendations emphasised inclusive, participatory skills ecosystems, focusing on STEAM approaches, talent retention, recognition of non-formal learning, and governance structures to address territorial disparities.

Initiatives such as LCAMP – Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform and its jobs and skills observatory were highlighted as examples of how regions can combine lifelong learning, strategic partnerships, and knowledge sharing to anticipate labour market needs and strengthen local talent development.

Quality of life and inclusive regions

Beyond innovation and skills, the discussions stressed that talent development depends on the quality of life and access to essential services. Inclusive societies, healthcare, education, and social infrastructure were presented as critical factors enabling regions to attract and retain talent, supporting the concept of the “right to stay”.

Continuing the conversation

Although the working group activities have officially concluded, the dialogue initiated through the TBM will continue. As noted by François Gallaga, Team Leader at DG REGIO, the conversation among regions, policymakers, and experts remains essential to addressing Europe’s demographic and talent challenges. This exchange will culminate in a final in-person event on 28 May in Brussels, reflecting on outcomes and next steps for regional talent development initiatives.

On 11 March 2026, the European Association of Regional and Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning (EARLALL), together with the Tuscany Region, hosted a seminar during the didacta fair Italia 2026 in Florence.

The event brought together regional and European actors to explore a central question for the future of EU policymaking: Do regions still matter in the new EU policy cycle? The seminar took place in the context of EARLALL’s 25th anniversary, combining celebration with reflection on how regions contribute to the governance of European cohesion policy. The main anniversary event will be held on 11 June in Brussels.

Reflecting on the Future of Cohesion Governance

The seminar opened with a political framing by Miriana Bucalossi (Tuscany Region, Vice President of EARLALL). Miriana highlighted current debates on cohesion governance for 2028–2034, noting risks of increased centralisation and stressing the importance of recognising regions as strategic governance actors, rather than mere administrative layers. From a European perspective, Miriam Castillo (Ministry of Education and Vocational Training of Catalonia, Vice President of EARLALL) outlined the role of EARLALL as a network connecting regional and local authorities in lifelong learning and skills development. She emphasised how regional cooperation networks foster policy learning, exchange of good practices, and capacity-building, particularly as European governance structures evolve. Jens Vermeersch (GO! Education of the Flemish Community) contributed insights from the Flemish regional perspective, highlighting where regions still make a structural difference in EU policies. He addressed what could be lost under a more centralised cohesion model and explained how regional autonomy strengthens VET governance.

Regional Cooperation in Practice

The seminar showcased concrete examples of regional cooperation. Marleen Mast (GO! Education of the Flemish Community and CVO Crescendo) presented a case study demonstrating how collaboration between regions and institutions can strengthen education and training systems. She highlighted the Regional Skills Partnership facilitated by EARLALL, which has enabled peer-knowledge exchanges across multiple territories and reinforced long-term capacity-building. Italian regions also presented practical experiences illustrating multi-level governance, including the implementation of the Garanzia di Occupabilità dei Lavoratori (GOL) Programme. These examples demonstrated the pivotal role of regional actors in translating European objectives into local policies for employment, lifelong learning, and social inclusion.

Future Governance Perspectives

Paolo Federighi (Hon. Prof at University of Florence) discussed emerging governance geometries, including the role of cities in lifelong learning, and identified both risks and opportunities for territorial cohesion in the coming EU policy cycle.

The seminar concluded with a synthesis reinforcing that cohesion governance is not institutionally neutral: regions are key actors in implementation, and cooperation across territories builds public capacity and drives policy innovation.

On 11 March 2026, the European Commission hosted the fourth and final consultation webinar contributing to the development of the future European Strategy for Vocational Education and Training (VET) 2026–2030. Entitled “Attractiveness of VET”, the online session brought together policymakers, VET providers, social partners, regional authorities and experts from across Europe to reflect on how vocational education and training can become a more appealing pathway for learners, educators and employers.

Building on the previous consultations on the international dimension, quality and labour market relevance, and excellence and innovation, this final webinar focused on one of the most persistent challenges facing VET systems across Europe: strengthening their attractiveness and public perception.

The meeting was opened by Andrea Laruste, Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission’s DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, who emphasised that the attractiveness of VET is a multifaceted issue that goes far beyond communication campaigns or image-building initiatives. She highlighted that making VET attractive requires attention to several interconnected dimensions, including the quality of programmes, meaningful career opportunities, clear progression pathways, effective guidance systems, and access to learning mobility. Ensuring that VET offers strong prospects for personal development and professional success is therefore central to increasing its appeal among learners and society at large.

A keynote intervention from Denmark further framed the discussion by exploring the concept of the “wicked problem” of making VET attractive. The presentation highlighted how VET policy often faces competing objectives and complex trade-offs, where initiatives designed to address one challenge may unintentionally create new ones. The Danish experience illustrates how reforms aimed at strengthening excellence, inclusion or labour market responsiveness can sometimes generate tensions between policy priorities. This perspective provided a valuable starting point for the broader discussion on how European and national strategies can navigate such complexities.

Creating attractive career and learning pathways

The first strand of discussions explored how VET pathways can provide more attractive prospects for learning, careers and personal development. Participants reflected on the importance of ensuring that vocational routes offer clear progression opportunities, including pathways to higher education and advanced professional roles.

Guidance and information were identified as critical elements in this regard. Effective career guidance, starting early in education systems, can help learners and their families better understand the opportunities offered by VET. Participants also emphasised the role of role models, success stories and skills competitions in showcasing the achievements of VET graduates and strengthening the prestige of vocational professions.

At the same time, several contributions highlighted that communication efforts alone are not sufficient. The credibility of VET depends fundamentally on the quality of programmes, strong links with labour markets, and tangible career outcomes.

Strengthening work-based learning and apprenticeships

A second major focus of the webinar was the role of work-based learning (WBL) and apprenticeships in increasing the attractiveness of VET. Participants agreed that well-designed WBL systems strengthen the connection between education and the world of work, allowing learners to gain practical skills while building professional networks.

However, discussions also pointed to a number of persistent challenges. In many contexts, SMEs require additional support to engage in apprenticeship training, whether through financial incentives, shared training facilities or administrative simplification. Participants also stressed the importance of ensuring fair conditions for apprentices, including appropriate remuneration and quality mentoring in companies.

Across contributions, there was broad agreement that strong employer engagement and structured partnerships between VET providers and companies remain essential to ensuring that work-based learning opportunities are both accessible and of high quality.

Expanding learning mobility in VET

The third discussion theme focused on learning mobility for VET learners and staff, which was widely recognised as an important factor in enhancing the attractiveness of vocational pathways. Mobility experiences can strengthen technical skills, foster intercultural competences and increase learners’ confidence and employability.

Despite progress through European programmes such as Erasmus+, participants noted that mobility opportunities remain less accessible for VET learners compared to students in general education or higher education. Administrative barriers, funding constraints and organisational challenges continue to limit participation in some countries and sectors.

Participants therefore highlighted the need to further expand and simplify mobility opportunities, while ensuring that VET learners and teachers can fully benefit from international learning experiences.

Feeding into the future EU VET Strategy

The webinar concluded with a plenary discussion synthesising insights from the working groups and reflecting on their implications for the future European VET Strategy. Several key messages emerged from the exchanges:

Attractiveness must be addressed through a systemic approach, combining quality, progression pathways, labour market relevance and strong guidance systems.
Work-based learning and apprenticeships remain central pillars of attractive VET systems and require sustained support for both learners and companies.
Learning mobility should become a more accessible and integrated component of vocational education and training.
Communication and promotion efforts should be complemented by structural reforms that strengthen the real opportunities offered by VET pathways.

As the final webinar in the consultation series, the discussion marked an important milestone in gathering stakeholder perspectives from across Europe. The insights collected during the event will feed into a synthesis report and contribute to shaping the forthcoming European Strategy for Vocational Education and Training 2026–2030, ensuring that VET systems across Europe become more attractive, inclusive and responsive to the needs of learners, societies and economies.

Previous webinars insights

On 2 and 5 March 2026, EARLALL took part in several sessions organised in the framework of EU Civil Society Week 2026, hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee.

The event brought together policymakers, civil society organisations, education stakeholders and European institutions to discuss how education, civic participation and social engagement can contribute to strengthening democratic resilience across Europe.

Education and lifelong learning for democratic resilience

During the session on citizenship education and democratic resilience, speakers highlighted the key role of education systems in fostering active citizenship and strengthening democratic values.

Pavel Trantina, EESC Member, underlined the importance of lifelong learning and youth engagement in building resilient and non-polarised societies. He emphasised the need to recognise non-formal education, invest in adult learning, and promote digital balance and mental health literacy.

Elisa Gambardella, President of the Lifelong Learning Platform, stressed that citizenship education should be placed at the centre of education policies. She highlighted that democratic participation is strengthened through learning experiences throughout life and that citizenship education should be considered a foundational element of education systems.

Bridging policy and practice in citizenship education

The high-level panel discussed how democratic values can be embedded more effectively in education systems and how cooperation between policymakers, educators and learners can support democratic participation. The discussion was moderated by Arja Krauchenberg, EPA Project Coordinator, and featured contributions from Brigitte van den Berg (Renew Europe Group, CULT Committee), Claudio Dondi (Education Inspiring Peace Lab), Lauren Bond from OBESSU, Suzana Carp (ECIT), as well as György Miklós (Szülői Hang) and Eszter Nagy from Union of European Federalists.

Cooperation between civil society, education institutions and local authorities

EARLALL contributed to discussions during the parallel session on synergies between training institutions, civil society organisations and local authorities led by EVBB and LLLP.

Participants explored how cooperation between these actors can strengthen citizenship education and civic engagement at the local level. Several examples demonstrated the value of local partnerships and community-based initiatives.

An example from Latvia showed how European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) funding can enable civil society organisations to organise citizenship education activities in schools when invited by educational institutions.

Funding civic space and strengthening civil society

On 5 March, EARLALL participated in the session “Funding Civic Space: the Role of the EU and Other Donors”, which explored the future of support for civil society across Europe.

The discussion was facilitated by Natacha Kazatchkine, Secretary General of the European Civic Forum, and brought together representatives from EU institutions, civil society organisations and philanthropic donors.

Speakers highlighted the increasing pressures faced by civil society organisations, including shrinking civic space and evolving funding landscapes. At the same time, participants emphasised the crucial role played by civil society in responding to major societal challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to humanitarian responses linked to the war in Ukraine.

Recognising invisible work in society

The final session focused on essential yet often undervalued forms of work, including care work, domestic services and other activities that support everyday life.

Speakers emphasised that this work is frequently carried out by women, particularly women from migrant backgrounds, and often remains under-recognised and insufficiently valued.

In this context, EARLALL highlighted the relevance of the WISE Project, which aims to improve the socio-economic inclusion and wellbeing of refugee women from Ukraine in Italy and Bulgaria. By piloting holistic support centres and providing gender-sensitive employment and social support services, the project contributes to strengthening women’s wellbeing and inclusion.

EARLALL is pleased to contribute to initiatives that promote women’s wellbeing, social inclusion and equal opportunities, reinforcing the role of education, lifelong learning and civil society cooperation in building more inclusive and resilient societies.

Our participation in the sessions of the EU Civil Society Week 2026 reflects EARLALL’s commitment to strengthening the role of education and lifelong learning in addressing societal challenges. These exchanges are closely linked to EARLALL’s Strategic Priority 3: Supporting the resilience of lifelong learning structures in the face of demographic and societal changes, highlighting the importance of cooperation between public authorities, education providers and civil society organisations in building resilient learning ecosystems across Europe.

EARLALL took part in the launch event of the All Digital Weeks 2026, organised by All Digital, marking the beginning of this year’s European campaign dedicated to digital inclusion and digital well-being.

As a strategic partner of the campaign, EARLALL joined policymakers, practitioners, researchers and digital inclusion experts to reflect on how Europe can support healthier, safer and more inclusive digital participation in an increasingly digitalised society.

Digital wellbeing for a competitive Europe

The event opened with remarks from Petra Bevek from the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Slovenia and Theresa Elhage, Communication and Advocacy Manager at All Digital.

In his keynote address, Tiago Silva highlighted the campaign’s central message: digital well-being is essential for a competitive Europe by bringing examples from the ALL DIGITAL network to Brussels. As digital tools increasingly shape how people work, learn and interact, fostering healthy digital habits and empowering citizens to navigate digital environments confidently has become a key societal priority.

Participants engaged in interactive discussions exploring how educators, learning providers, policymakers and civil society organisations can work together to promote inclusive and responsible digital participation.

Digital wellbeing and inclusion in EU strategies

A policy panel brought together experts from European institutions, the private sector and civil society to discuss how digital wellbeing and inclusion are being addressed in EU strategies.

Francesca Maltauro, Deputy Head of Unit for Digital Education at the European Commission, emphasised the importance of strengthening digital skills and AI literacy across education systems, while ensuring that policies address the broader social and well-being impacts of digital technologies. She highlighted concerns around the mental health of young people in digital environments and the need to ensure that European digital policies promote safe and trustworthy online spaces.

From the industry perspective, Julie Guichard, EU Digital Safety Government Affairs at Microsoft, stressed that trust must be embedded across the entire digital ecosystem. This includes designing services responsibly, providing clear rules and safeguards, ensuring transparency, and supporting users through education and digital skills development.

Addressing regional and social inequalities, Laia Orozco Joan, Head of the Digital Equity Lab at the Bofill Foundation, highlighted that the digital divide is no longer only about access to technology. Differences in skills, knowledge and support systems can shape how people interact with digital tools, potentially widening inequalities if not addressed through inclusive education policies.

Finally, Diogo Heinen, Digital Well-Being and Inclusive Technology expert at MAKS, stressed the importance of linking digital inclusion and digital well-being. Vulnerable groups, including people with lower digital literacy, may be more exposed to digital risks and distractions. Strengthening digital life skills and community-based learning opportunities can therefore help citizens navigate digital environments with greater confidence.

The role of education, lifelong learning and regions

The discussions highlighted the critical role of education and lifelong learning systems in supporting digital wellbeing. Participants emphasised the importance of developing digital literacy, critical thinking and AI awareness across all age groups.

For regional and local authorities, these discussions resonate strongly with EARLALL’s work on lifelong learning and inclusive skills development. Regions play a key role in ensuring equitable access to digital learning opportunities, particularly for rural areas, vulnerable groups and adult learners, and in supporting educators and training providers in addressing new digital challenges.

Through initiatives such as All Digital Weeks, European networks, policymakers and practitioners can work together to strengthen inclusive digital ecosystems that promote participation, trust and wellbeing in digital societies.

EARLALL looks forward to continuing its collaboration with All DIGITAL and partners across Europe to promote digital inclusion, lifelong learning and responsible digital transformation.

During the week of the European Employment and Social Rights Forum (EU Social Forum) 3-4 March 2026, in Brussels, EARLALL held several exchanges with regional and higher education stakeholders, highlighting shared challenges and innovative approaches to skills development and lifelong learning across Europe.

These meetings provided valuable opportunities to discuss regional perspectives on skills shortages, workforce transformation, and inclusive access to education—issues central to the EU Social Forum discussions.

Addressing skills challenges with partners from Northern Sweden

EARLALL welcomed a delegation from Northern Sweden composed of representatives from regional authorities and academia, including Region Västerbotten and Luleå University of Technology, as well as colleagues based in Brussels.

The exchange focused on the work of EARLALL in monitoring EU initiatives related to education, inclusion, mobility and skills development, as well as the role of regional cooperation and peer learning in supporting members to respond to common challenges.

Representatives from Northern Sweden highlighted the rapid economic transformation taking place in their region, particularly linked to the establishment of major battery production activities.

The discussion also addressed recent developments following the bankruptcy of battery manufacturer Northvolt, and the implications for workforce planning and regional resilience. Participants reflected on the importance of strengthening cooperation between vocational education and training (VET) providers and universities, as well as the potential role of EU instruments such as the Just Transition Fund in supporting regions facing structural change.

Expanding access to higher education: exchange with the Open University in Wales

In a separate meeting, EARLALL colleagues met with representatives from the Open University in Wales and Universities Wales to discuss innovative approaches to widening access to higher education and supporting lifelong learning pathways.

The Open University in Wales currently serves around 17,000 students through a flexible online and distance-learning model designed to support diverse learner profiles. Participants presented the institution’s broad range of learning opportunities. The Open University also highlighted its flexible “Open Degree”, which allows learners to design their own qualifications by selecting modules across different subject areas—an approach that supports personalised learning journeys and lifelong upskilling.

The discussion also explored the Open University’s partnerships with the Welsh Government, schools, hospitals and health boards to deliver professional training programmes, including teacher training, nursing, social work and digital degree apprenticeships. These initiatives allow learners to study alongside work while directly addressing labour market needs in key sectors. At the same time, maintaining up-to-date curriculum content in rapidly evolving fields remains a significant challenge for higher education institutions.

Participants also discussed emerging opportunities in digital innovation in education, including the use of AI-driven predictive analytics to support student success by identifying learners who may need additional support.

The meeting concluded with an exchange on opportunities for European cooperation. UK universities, including the Open University, are increasingly encouraged to develop credit transfer systems to support skills portability and lifelong learning—priorities that resonate strongly with ongoing European policy discussions.

Representatives from the Open University in Wales also highlighted the importance of engaging with European networks such as EARLALL to better identify and prioritise potential EU project opportunities, particularly in a context where institutional resources for international cooperation are limited.

Continuing dialogue across regions

Both exchanges demonstrated the shared challenges faced by regions and education providers across Europe—from managing economic transitions and skills shortages to expanding access to flexible and inclusive learning opportunities.

They also reinforced the importance of dialogue between regional authorities, higher education institutions and European networks in developing effective responses to these challenges and strengthening lifelong learning ecosystems.

On this International Women’s Day, the Gender Equality Task Force reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that education, training and lifelong learning empower women and girls across Europe.

Promoted by EARLALL, European Forum for Vocational Education and Training (EfVET) and the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), the Task Force is advancing a strategic agenda focused on:

Gender equality in digital skills, AI and TVET,
Building capacity in adult education to strengthen women’s participation and opportunities,
Empowering learners and migrant women, giving them a platform to share experiences and projects,
Addressing violence and discrimination in educational and workplace settings,
Monitoring and preparing for the European Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030, ensuring policies translate into real impact.

The newly presented EU Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030 provides a renewed framework to advance gender equality across Europe, embedding it across key areas of life, including education, health, work and public participation. Its objectives will guide our efforts to ensure that gender equality policies translate into tangible impact in classrooms, workplaces and communities. At the same time, initiatives such as the Union of Skills highlight the EU’s ambition to increase adult participation in lifelong learning — currently below 40% — and to equip women with the skills they need to thrive in evolving labour markets.

Through Erasmus+ and other EU-funded opportunities for gender equality, surveys on access to education and work, and showcasing good practices, the Task Force fosters an open community for dialogue, exchange and collaboration, promoting inclusive learning environments and equal opportunities for all.

This day reminds us that lifelong learning and equitable education systems are essential to achieving gender equality, unlocking human potential, and creating more resilient, inclusive societies.

On 4 March 2026, EARLALL along other partners of the LeadEx Interreg Europe project met online for their sixth coordination meeting to review project progress and finalise preparations for the upcoming Study Visit in Estonia (9–11 March 2026). The meeting brought together representatives from Spain, Belgium, Poland, Denmark, Slovenia, Montenegro, Estonia and Croatia. EARLALL presented communication progress and updates regarding the Joint Regional Education Diagnosis Report.

The session was opened by the Region of Murcia, Spain who welcomed participants and outlined the main objectives of the meeting, with a particular focus on ensuring smooth coordination ahead of the study visit and advancing several key project activities.

Final preparations for the Study Visit in Estonia

The Estonian Quality Agency for Education presented the latest organisational updates regarding the upcoming interregional exchange event. A total of 32 project partners are expected to participate in the study visit, alongside around 25 Estonian stakeholders who will join the Interregional Seminar on 10 March 2026.

Partners reviewed the final agenda, logistical arrangements and communication procedures for the event. To ensure smooth technical coordination at the venue, all presentations were requested in advance.

The study visit will take place in Tallinn from 9–11 March 2026 and will be hosted by the Estonian Quality Agency for Education. The three-day programme will include an overview of the Estonian education system, the presentation of the Joint Regional Education Diagnosis Report followed by a discussion on improving policy instruments, a Steering Committee meeting, the first Interregional Educational Seminar on teacher training hosted at Tallinn University, as well as study visits to local schools and educational organisations.

Exchange of Good Practices on teacher professional development

During the meeting, partners also reviewed the progress of the Good Practices collection, coordinated by the Polish partner and co-led by Denmark.

The practices reflect a wide range of policy approaches across Europe, including:

mentoring and induction systems for newly recruited teachers,
systemic frameworks supporting teacher professional development,
initiatives addressing inclusion and diversity in education,
capacity-building programmes linked to STEAM education and digital transformation.

Communication activities and reporting

EARLALL presented upcoming communication actions related to the Study Visit, including online updates, interviews with project partners and local stakeholders, and a wrap-up communication package after the event and concluded with an update on the Joint Regional Education Diagnosis Report. The report aims to identify policy needs, challenges, strengths and priorities, while supporting interregional learning within the LeadEx project.

The upcoming study visit will further strengthen cooperation among partners, support the refinement of policy approaches, and contribute to advancing excellence, inclusion and innovation in regional education systems. Building on the recently completed joint regional diagnosis coordinated by EARLALL, the meeting will mark an important step towards interregional learning, enabling partners to move from analysis to the exchange of practices and policy solutions.

The EARLALL Working Groups in Skills & Labour Market and Mobility launched their first 2026 activities with working groups dedicated to key areas. Both meetings took place on 3 March, bringing together policy representatives, public authorities, and technical staff from EARLALL member regions and associate members to discuss upcoming activities, campaigns, and the EARLALL 25th Anniversary.

The working group on Skills & Labour Market presented their new working group leader, Oscar Martorell from the Catalonia Ministry of Education and VET. Martorell presented recent updates in projects, including the EXCEED Skills Exhibitions taking place on 16 April, serving as an international contest where applicants have the chance to present co-created innovative solutions and projects, so-called “masterpieces,” to regional, national, and international stakeholders, effectively creating a knowledge exchange to boost the green and digital transformations of Advanced Manufacturing.

Martorell continued by highlighting LCAMP (Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform for CoVEs) International LCAMP Week & Open Days 2026, taking place from 21–23 April in Vitoria (Basque Country). This event serves as an opportunity to gain practical insight into the implementation of Learning Factories and Industry 4.0 technologies in vocational and higher vocational education. The working group also discussed the upcoming capacity-building webinar focusing on the Battery Industry, which will serve as the second part of the Sector Skills Webinars, with the first exploring Applied Arts & Craftmanship.

The afternoon was dedicated to a working group on Mobility, featuring Julia Burkhard and Nicholas Waller (co-chairs from Movetia and Boras Municipality), introduced current developments in Switzerland in relation to Erasmus+. With the upcoming Movetia Conference 2026 in March, this two-day event will focus on Switzerland’s planned association with the Erasmus+ programme from 2027, a key objective of the Swiss Federal Council, aiming to strengthen involvement in international cooperation.

Then, they discussed the launch of the factsheet on mobility opportunities for people with fewer opportunities, based on a dedicated survey across the EARLALL network. As a concluding part of the meetings, the Working Groups also reviewed the consideration of creating an EARLALL ambassador initiative, to strengthen our regional engagement.

The working groups will reconvene in Spring 2026 to assess the progress and activities and with an in-person meeting during the EARLALL 25 Anniversary event in June, Brussels.

From The EGG in Brussels to hybrid participation across Europe, the European Employment and Social Rights Forum 2026 (EU Social Forum) convened policymakers, social partners, business leaders, academics and civil society to discuss how Europe can uphold its social model while adapting to global economic pressures, technological change and evolving labour markets. This year’s edition, organised by the European Commission’s Directorate‑General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, focused on three core pillars: quality jobs, the fight against poverty and fair labour mobility.

The Forum kicked off on 3 March with opening remarks from Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice‑President for Social Rights and Skills, who set the scene for a strategic dialogue on competitiveness and social inclusion. This was followed by a keynote from Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who underlined the interconnectedness of social and economic agendas — a “Social Europe in a Competitive Europe”. Von der Leyen reflected on Europe’s resilience through recent crises, from protecting jobs during the pandemic to investing in skills for the twin digital and green transition under Next Generation EU. She highlighted the challenges of ongoing structural transformation, particularly with the rise of AI and sectoral transitions.

Von der Leyen laid out three strategic priorities:

Completing the Single Market by reducing fragmentation with tools like the forthcoming EU Ink for rapid online company registration across Member States, and the anticipated Fair Mobility Package to facilitate cross‑border labour mobility.
Skills and Quality Jobs, including advancing the Union of Skills and a Future Skills Guarantee to help people navigate transitions between sectors. The newly discussed Quality Jobs Act was framed as a win for workers, enterprises and Europe’s competitiveness.
Affordability, with a focus on housing as a basic right and the upcoming Affordable Housing Action Plan to reduce financial insecurity.

Panel Discussions and Diverse Perspectives

The first day’s plenary brought together distinguished figures including:

Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy and academic leader;
Yolanda Díaz, Spain’s Second Vice‑President and Minister for Labour and Social Economy;
Li Andersson, Chair of the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee;
Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC);
Markus J. Beyrer, Director‑General of BusinessEurope;
Maria Nyman, Secretary‑General of Caritas Europa;
Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights;
Sidsel Marie Kristensen, CEO of the LEGO Foundation;
Mario Nava, Director‑General of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

Discussions spanned how digitalisation, demographic shifts, and global competition are reshaping work and social protection systems — while reaffirming the human dimension at the core of European policymaking.

A notable cultural highlight was the participation of Vincent Kompany, former professional footballer and current coach, who joined discussions to underline the importance of education, resilience, and youth empowerment in societal transformation — bringing a unique voice from the world of sport to emphasise that skills, teamwork and lifelong learning are essential beyond traditional labour market frameworks to promote ‘Social cohesion’.

Day Two: Deep Dive into Skills and Policy Breakouts

On 4 March, the EU Social Forum transitioned to detailed breakout sessions addressing core policy areas:

Pact for Skills Sessions

EARLALL took an active role in the sessions connected to the Pact for Skills, which placed private‑public cooperation and long‑term investment in workforce development front and centre. The Pact sessions — built around three thematic discussions — explored:

Future skills needs and developments
Closing the skills gap for a competitive Europe
Pact for Skills and the Clean Industrial Deal: Opportunities for synergies

These sessions highlighted the strategic role of coordinated action among businesses, training providers, public authorities, and civil society to tackle labour and skills shortages, innovate in upskilling pathways, and transform regional examples into scalable European approaches.

A regional voice came from a representative of the Province of North Holland, presenting a Manifesto for Lifelong Learning and Upskilling/Reskilling that unites over 400 local actors behind a shared vision for continuous learning ecosystems.

Broader Policy Dialogues

Across the day, other breakout themes included:

The first‑ever EU Anti‑Poverty Strategy – key elements and the way forward
Empowering NEETs Through ALMA (Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve)
Microfinance and social/financial inclusion of vulnerable groups
Social protection for dignified ageing
Fair labour mobility
Resilient societies through research and evidence‑based policy

These breakout discussions tied closely to the Forum’s overarching mission to combine social rights with economic resilience, drawing connections between policy design, labour market dynamics and lived experience.

High‑Level Skills Leadership

Prior to the breakout sessions, newly appointed Ylva Johansson, Chair of the European Skills High-Level Board, delivered an important message for the future of European skills policy. She emphasised that Europe must significantly raise adult participation in lifelong learning, from current levels below 40% towards the 60% target by 2030, as outlined in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan. Johansson stressed that education systems must strengthen basic skills, better integrate learning with labour market needs, and cultivate people’s ability to continually adapt — coining the vision of a “New Social Human Capital model” that recognises both the potential and under‑utilisation of existing competences.

Looking Ahead

The EU Social Forum concluded with a renewed call for integrated strategies that bridge regional, national and European efforts, ensuring that transitions through digitalisation, demographic shifts and global competition remain human‑centred. For organisations like EARLALL, the EU Social Forum was both a platform for sharing regional innovation and a conduit for shaping Europe’s social and skills priorities going forward.

On 3 March 2026, EARLALL took part in the 16th Large-Scale Skills Partnership (LSP) and Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) Coordinators’ Technical Meeting of the Pact for Skills. The meeting was hosted by the European Commission in Brussels and was held ahead of the 2026 European Employment and Social Rights Forum.

As coordinator of the Regional Skills Partnership for Lifelong Learning Mobility, Noelia Cantero, Director of EARLALL, contributed to discussions on the future implementation of the revamped Pact for Skills within the framework of the Union of Skills.

Driving Forward the Union of Skills

The meeting opened with remarks from Steven Engels, Head of Unit for Professional Qualifications and skills for Competitiveness, DG EMPL, outlining the ambitions for LSPs and RSPs in advancing the Union of Skills. Updates were provided on the operation and delivery of the Pact, followed by an exchange with coordinators.

The Commission highlighted the scale of the initiative, which currently brings together:

20 Large-Scale Skills Partnerships
22 Regional Skills Partnerships
Over 4,000 member organisations

Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening cross-sectoral synergies, improving linkages between partnerships, and reinforcing upskilling and reskilling commitments. The alignment of the Pact with the EU Competitiveness Compass and the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) was identified as a strategic priority, with further financial support for VET–business cooperation expected under the Competitiveness Fund in 2028 onwards.

Three Major Policy Updates

The Commission also presented three key policy developments shaping the future EU skills agenda:

New VET Strategy
Building on the Herning Declaration, the upcoming VET Strategy will revise and update the current framework. An open public consultation is ongoing, with the final document expected in June 2026.
European Skills Academies
The Academies will be integrated into the new VET Strategy. They are intended to function as a more operational and practical instrument, guiding both the Commission and implementing agencies in their deployment.
Skills Portability and Recognition
The Commission emphasised the need to strengthen the Single Market for skills by improving the use of existing transparency frameworks, addressing challenges in regulated professions, and facilitating recognition of qualifications — including for third-country nationals.

Participants also expressed interest in contributing to the newly established European Skills Intelligence Observatory under the Union of Skills, highlighting the importance of better skills intelligence and anticipation mechanisms.

Pact Support Services and Operational Tools

An update from the Pact for Skills Support Services, implemented by Ecorys, presented ongoing activities including monitoring exercises, the annual survey, and funding-related webinars for Pact members.

The Pact toolkit was highlighted as a central implementation instrument, encompassing:

Blueprints for sectoral cooperation
The new VET–Business strand
EU Skills Academies
EU Alliances

Stronger coordination between the Pact for Skills and the European Alliance for Apprenticeships was also discussed, particularly in relation to common services and apprenticeship-related pledges.

EARLALL also supports the work of the EAfA in several concrete ways, as a long‑standing EAfA member and pledge contributor, active participation in EAfA events and webinars, co‑lead of an EAfA “Community of Practice on the Role of Cities and Regions in Fostering Apprenticeships”, and Policy support and content contributions.

Next Steps: Boosting Pledges and Enhancing Impact

The core of the meeting consisted of an interactive roundtable discussion on the role of Pact partnerships in achieving the objectives of the revamped Pact for Skills for a competitive Europe. Exchanges focused on:

Boosting and improving the monitoring of pledges, including apprenticeships
Expanding membership, particularly among SMEs and regional actors
Strengthening skills intelligence and anticipation systems
Improving the effectiveness of Pact support services

On 2 March 2026, the European Commission hosted the third consultation webinar in the series shaping the future European Strategy for Vocational Education and Training (VET) 2026–2030. Entitled “Excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship in VET”, the online session brought together policymakers, VET providers, social partners, regional authorities and experts from across Europe to reflect on how to scale up vocational excellence and strengthen VET’s contribution to competitiveness and innovation.

Following the previous sessions on the international dimension and on quality and labour market relevance, this third webinar focused on four interconnected priorities: Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs), VET-business partnerships, innovative pedagogies, and entrepreneurship education.

The meeting was opened by Ms Andrea Leruste, Deputy Head of Unit at DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, who reiterated the importance of grounding the future EU VET Strategy in practical experience from Member States and regions. She emphasised that excellence in VET must be inclusive, embedded in regional ecosystems, and aligned with Europe’s digital and green transitions.

Centres of Vocational Excellence as engines of systemic change

The first session explored the role of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) as drivers of innovation and regional development. Anna Barbieri (DG EMPL) presented insights from the recent analysis of Erasmus+ CoVE projects, highlighting how vocational excellence is achieved through strong skills ecosystems, partnerships across the “knowledge triangle” (education, business and research), and learner-centred approaches supported by quality assurance.

A particularly strong contribution came from Inge Gorostiaga, Director for Digitalisation and Advanced Learning at the Basque Government and Vice-President of EARLALL.

In her intervention, she presented the vision underpinning the VI Basque VET Strategy 2030, which positions VET at the heart of regional competitiveness, industrial transformation and social cohesion. She underlined how long-term political commitment, strong governance, and close cooperation with companies have enabled the Basque Country to embed vocational excellence within a comprehensive innovation ecosystem.

She also showcased the LCAMP (Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform), a European flagship Centre of Vocational Excellence project focused on advanced manufacturing. LCAMP promotes transnational collaboration, innovative learning environments and joint curriculum development aligned with industrial needs.

Inviting participants to engage further, she encouraged regions and organisations to join the LCAMP Alliance and to take part in the upcoming LCAMP Conference in Vitoria-Gasteiz in April 2026, as a space for peer learning, networking and scaling up vocational excellence across Europe.

Her intervention illustrated how regional leadership, European cooperation and structured ecosystems can move excellence from project level to system-wide transformation.

Strengthening VET-business partnerships

The second session focused on developing structured and sustainable VET-business partnerships. Panellists and participants examined both formal governance arrangements—particularly in dual systems—and more flexible, needs-driven cooperation models.

Discussions highlighted the importance of joint training facilities, shared equipment and innovation hubs, especially to support SMEs in accessing new technologies. Participants also reflected on the announced VET Business Partnerships initiative under the European Competitiveness Fund, noting its potential to facilitate technology transfer, applied research and upskilling in critical sectors.

Across interventions, a common message emerged: employer engagement must go beyond consultation and become a genuine co-design process, embedded in curricula development, delivery and assessment.

Innovative pedagogies and entrepreneurial mindsets

The third thematic strand addressed innovative teaching and learning approaches and the promotion of entrepreneurship in VET. Contributions showcased learner-centred methodologies such as project-based learning, challenge-driven formats and the use of emerging technologies including AI, VR and digital twins.

Participants also reflected on the integration of entrepreneurship competences, building on the EntreComp framework developed by the European Commission. Discussions emphasised that entrepreneurship is not limited to business creation but includes broader competences such as initiative, creativity, resilience and ethical thinking—skills essential across all sectors.

Micro-credentials, modular pathways and flexible qualification designs were identified as important tools to enhance both innovation and lifelong learning opportunities, although challenges remain regarding recognition and integration into national qualification frameworks.

Feeding into the future EU VET Strategy

The final plenary session invited participants to reflect on how excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship can be embedded at system level. Discussions pointed to the need for:

Clear definitions and shared reference frameworks for vocational excellence;
Long-term governance arrangements and quality assurance mechanisms;
Stronger European peer learning and mutual support;
Continued investment in teacher and trainer professional development;
Better alignment between VET, regional innovation ecosystems and industrial policy.

As with the previous webinars, insights collected during the discussions and via interactive exchanges will feed into a synthesis report and inform the forthcoming Communication on the future EU VET Strategy.

The strong engagement from European, national and regional stakeholders—including the active contribution of the Basque Government —demonstrated a shared commitment to ensuring that VET systems are not only responsive to labour market needs, but also engines of excellence, innovation and entrepreneurial capacity across Europe.