EPP-CoR members call for stronger regional skills ecosystems, lifelong learning and better coordination of EU investment
Europe’s future skills policy must combine technological capabilities with the distinctly human skills needed to adapt, collaborate and innovate, EPP-CoR President Sari Rautio said during an exchange with Marian Harkin, Irish Minister of State for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills, at the European Committee of the Regions. The discussion took place during the SEDEC Commission’s exploratory debate on “Skills for the Future”, an opinion requested by the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The debate examined how Europe can anticipate changing labour-market needs and ensure that education and training respond to the realities of people, businesses and territories. Rautio stressed that the skills debate should not focus exclusively on technological change. “Empathy, collaboration skills and knowing how to work sustainably with nature are also skills for the future. These are skills that we already teach children through the forest preschool approach in Hämeenlinna. They are profoundly human skills that AI cannot replace,” said Rautio.
The forest preschool approach is currently showcased at the European Committee of the Regions through the Children of the Forest exhibition, highlighting how learning in nature can develop cooperation, independence and a relationship with the natural environment from an early age.
From qualifications to the capacity to learn
EPP-CoR member Markku Markkula argued that Europe should broaden its understanding of skills beyond formal qualifications and make continuous learning part of its competitiveness agenda. “Skills policy should move beyond measuring qualifications towards building continuous learning and transformation capability. Competitiveness increasingly depends on lifelong learning, professional updating, interdisciplinary skills and the ability of organisations and ecosystems to learn together. Learning to learn is the key,” said Markkula.
He called for a shift from fragmented projects towards integrated, place-based transformation portfolios, bringing together Horizon Europe, Cohesion Policy, national funding, EIB financing, private investment and public procurement. He stressed that this approach will be particularly important in the preparation of the future National and Regional Partnership Plans. Markkula also highlighted the role of cities, regions and public administrations as innovation enablers, using tools including AI, data, Living Labs, testbeds, regulatory experimentation and innovative public procurement.
Permanent regional skills partnerships
Csaba Borboly, Vice-President of Harghita, emphasised that skills needs differ substantially between territories and that EU action therefore needs to be grounded in regional evidence. “There is no single European skills reality. Each region has different employers, learners and barriers. This is why European action must start with regional evidence,” said Borboly. Building on his previous work on the European Skills Agenda, Borboly called for permanent regional skills partnerships bringing together schools, universities, training providers, employers, public services and local and regional authorities.
“Every region should have a permanent skills partnership and an early warning system. This would help us identify change before people lose their jobs,” he added. He also called for more flexible training opportunities and stronger support for small businesses, which are often among the first to identify changing skills requirements but lack the capacity to organise training independently.