Overview

The Skills Portability Initiative is a European Commission initiative intended to make qualifications and skills easier to understand, verify, and recognize when individuals move among European Union countries. It also addresses recognition of qualifications obtained outside the European Union by European Union citizens and third-country nationals.

The initiative was initially announced as part of the related Union of Skills in March 2025, The Union of Skills is a planning effort introduced by the European Commission to improve high-quality education, training, and lifelong learning. It aims to:

• deliver higher levels of basic and advanced skills
• provide opportunities for people to regularly update and learn new skills
• facilitate recruitment by businesses across the EU
• attract, develop and retain top talent in Europe

On September 15, 2026, the European Commission advanced the skills portability initiative through the Fair Labour Mobility Package, including a proposed Skills Portability Act, revisions to existing professional-qualifications rules, and new proposals concerning recognition of qualifications held by people from outside the European Union. The proposals are intended to serve workers, employers, and public authorities and improve cross-border recruitment and labor mobility. Proposed reforms include:

• greater digitalization of qualification information and recognition procedures
• use of digital qualifications through the European Union Digital Identity Wallet
• streamlined recognition procedures
• common approaches for qualifications obtained outside the European Union.

As of September 2026, the legislative components of the initiative remain subject to consideration and adoption by the European Parliament and Council.

Background

European workers have a right to move among member countries, but differences in qualification-recognition systems can create obstacles to employment and recruitment. The European Commission reports that qualification-recognition processes remain unevenly digitalized and that skills shortages and mismatches affect employers throughout the European Union.

The Union of Skills identified portability as one of the mechanisms needed to create a stronger European skills system, improve movement of workers within the Single Market, and make Europe more attractive to skilled workers from other countries.

Partners

The European Commission leads the initiative. Implementation of the proposed legislation will involve European Union member countries, national authorities responsible for qualification recognition and regulated professions, and European Union institutions. Legislative proposals require consideration by the European Parliament and Council of the European Union.

Funder

The Skills Portability Initiative is principally a European Union policy, legislative, and digital-infrastructure initiative rather than a stand-alone grant program.

Resources

Fair Labour Mobility Package — European Commission

Skills Portability: Helping Skills and Qualifications Travel Across Borders — European Commission

Union of Skills — European Commission