The European strategy
Union of Skills
The European Commission’s strategy for skills, learning and talent across education, work and life.
The European Commission introduced the Union of Skills in March 2025. It brings together education, training and lifelong learning to help people develop and use skills for work and life. It concerns people of all ages.
Official EU strategy
The four official strands
Plain-language summaries of the Commission’s strategy.
- 01
Build skills for quality jobs and lives
Education and training for work and everyday life.
- 02
Upskill and reskill an agile workforce
Opportunities to update skills and learn different ones as work changes.
- 03
Circulate skills across the EU
Help people use their skills and qualifications across EU countries.
- 04
Attract, develop and retain talent
Support the talent Europe needs for research, innovation and growth.
Why it matters
Changes in work and technology make continuing learning important. The strategy addresses basic and advanced skills, opportunities to update skills, the use of qualifications across countries and the talent Europe needs.
Its scope includes science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), vocational learning and skills for particular sectors, as well as transferable skills.
UnionOfSkills.com interpretation
How UnionOfSkills.com connects with it
UnionOfSkills.com is an independent guide by Projekta. Our 10 practical themes organise 35 selected skills for browsing and reflection. They are not official EU categories or a complete list of skills covered by the strategy.
The official strands describe a broad policy direction. Our practical themes help people explore transferable skills in everyday learning, participation and work. A skill can connect with more than one theme.
Consider your context
Start with what people want to do and the opportunities they have to practise. Use the skill pages to explore what each skill can look like in everyday life.
Explore the policy and framework sources →