In March 2025, the European Commission proposed the Union of Skills, an initiative which aims to deliver a new approach to Europe’s challenges, combining education, training and employment policies under a common vision of competitiveness.

Ceemet welcomes the Union of Skills as a key tool to boost skills at all levels and strengthen Europe’s industrial base, particularly for SMEs, through ambitious up- and re-skilling policies. However, any measures must respect Member States’ competence in education and training and avoid adding unnecessary administrative burdens. Ceemet supports the Basic Skills Support Scheme and the 2030 target on basic skills, while underlining that public authorities remain responsible for providing these skills and that companies which invest in training should be supported. The MET industry also backs the Commission’s push for stronger STEM skills and the 2030 STEM targets, provided EU actions complement rather than duplicate national STEM strategies.

Ceemet calls for skills policies to be placed at the core of a renewed European industrial strategy, with strong emphasis on career guidance, micro-credentials, and targeted support for SMEs. EU funds for skills should be simple, accessible, and clearly prioritised. Social partners must play a central role in anticipating and managing skills needs, shaping policies, and deploying training, while EU initiatives such as the Skills Guarantee, Skills Portability Initiative, and EU Skills Academy should avoid creating new burdens or overlapping with national competences. Ceemet also supports the EU Talent Pool, the Skills Observatory, and expresses willingness to join the High-Level Skills Board to help shape Europe’s future skills agenda.

You can read more on the MET industry’s perspectives on the Union of Skills in our latest paper.