European Union (EU) and European Commission (EC)

Last Updated: 11/10/2025

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The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27 countries. It operates a single market that trades globally and between its Member countries (allows free movement of goods, capital, services, and people between member states).

Examples of the EU's education initiatives include:

The EU’s Education and Training Framework
- This initiative identifies objectives and a framework for collaboration among Member states, and the EU implements policies in early childhood education and care schools, vocational education and training, higher education, adult education, and the field of youth.
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)
- Cedefop operates as a forum at the crossroads between education systems and the world of work and enables organization to share ideas and consider how best to improve vocational education and training in Europe.
Communication on the European Education Area
- A commitment to work toward a EuropeThis approach was also included in the European Skills Agenda. which is expected to be used to implement the European Commission’s Digital Education Action Plan.
Microcredentials
- The EC adopted a proposal for a European approach to micro-credits for lifelong learning and employability. The proposal recommended that Member states: (1) apply a common EU definition, standards, and basic principles for the design and issuance of a micro-credit, including its portability; (2) develop an ecosystem for microcredentials; and (3) exploit the potential of microcredentials to support lifelong learning and employability. The goal is to help microcredentials to be developed, used, and benchmarked in a coherent manner by member states, stakeholders, and various providers (e.g., education and training institutions, private companies) across different sectors, domains, and borders. The proposal was subsequently adopted, together with a proposal for Individual Learning Accounts, which can support the development, use, and uptake of microcredentials. The microcredential and alternative credential providers include those outside higher education—business firms, professional bodies, training firms, and vocational education institutions.

European Commission (EC)

The European Commission (EC) is the politically independent executive branch of the EU, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, managing the EU budget, and ensuring that EU law is correctly applied across all member states. The EC affects workforce and education through its power to propose EU-wide strategies, set common goals, provide substantial funding, and enforce legislation related to employment rights and skills development. While education and labor policies are primarily a national responsibility, the Commission uses these mechanisms to encourage and coordinate reforms across member states to address shared challenges. EC actions that shape the workforce and education include:

Addressing Skills Shortages: The EC implements major initiatives, such as the new "Union of Skills" and the "European Year of Skills 2023", to tackle skill mismatches in the labor market. These efforts promote upskilling and reskilling, particularly for the digital and green transitions, ensuring the workforce remains competitive.
Enhancing Labor Mobility: The EC works to improve the portability and recognition of qualifications across EU borders (through initiatives like a potential European VET diploma or skills portability framework), making it easier for workers to move to where their skills are in demand.
Providing Funding and Support
Promoting Fair Working Conditions
Supporting Quality and Innovation: Through programs like Erasmus+, the EU funds mobility for students, teachers, and trainees, and supports partnerships to develop innovative curricula, such as joint European degrees and Centres of Vocational Excellence.
Focusing on Digital and Basic Skills: Initiatives like the Digital Education Action Plan and the Action Plan on Basic Skills aim to integrate digital competencies and foundational skills into all levels of education, preparing students for a modern workforce.
Addressing Equality and Inclusion: Specific actions target underrepresented groups, such as the STEM Education Strategic Plan which aims to train one million girls by 2028, and initiatives to support young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs).