Brussels, 04/04/2025

European Schoolnet welcomes the new package of initiatives designed by the European Commission to improve high quality education, training and lifelong learning in the European Union and calls for a stronger commitment towards the earlier education levels, as only strong early childhood, primary and secondary education systems can prepare the highly skilled workforce of tomorrow. Further to the publication of European Commission's Union of Skills Communication, European Schoolnet, shares the views of the organisation and its network of ministries of education on the European Commission's Union of Skills Communication.

A Call for a More Inclusive and Human-Centred Skills Agenda

European Schoolnet welcomes the new package of initiatives designed by the European Commission to improve high quality education, training and lifelong learning in the European Union (EU) and calls for a more human centred Union of Skills, with bolder policy efforts and more investment towards early childhood, primary and secondary education, better serving schools, teachers and students, from all socio-economic backgrounds and geographic areas. To make this possible, European Schoolnet remains committed to getting involved in the implementation of the Union of Skills, supporting the European Commission initiatives across Europe.

In this paper, the organisation also offers recommendations to the European Commission's STEM Education Strategic Plan: skills for competitiveness and innovation, and the Action Plan on Basic Skills.

Supporting schools, ensures that every child can succeed regardless of their background or personal situation. That's why the organisation underlines the importance of investing in inclusive, high-quality education systems to ensure no learner is left behind in the Union of Skills. In its position paper, the organisation notes that European countries face the challenge of supporting students from fragile socio-economic backgrounds, and it stresses that equitable access to quality education and resources is crucial.

European Schoolnet looks forward to the involvement of its Ministries of Education network in upcoming EU policy developments, such as the adoption of a Roadmap on the future of digital education and training, the creation of a Skills Observatory and the UE-27 Recommendation on human capital and education, and the new European STEM Executive Panel, announced by the European Commission Communications Union of Skills.

In addition, European Schoolnet stands ready to contribute to the development of the STEM competence framework and support campaigns such as the European STEM Week, building on its longstanding experience with initiatives like the Scientix® STEM Discovery Campaign.

Read the position paper!