The world is still recovering from an unprecedented period as the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our day-to-day lives in various ways. The European Commission wants to turn such challenges into opportunities and sees the green and digital transitions as the catalysts for Europe’s future. The recent European Skills Agenda has been devised to equip the workforce with the right skillset to achieve these transitions in the shortest period possible.  

The European Skills Agenda is aimed to:  

  • Enhance sustainable competitiveness to help Europe achieve the European Green Deal and place its digital and industrial strategies into practice;  
  • Ensure social equality throughout, finally putting into practice the first principle of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which is, access to education, training and lifelong-learning for everyone;  
  • Build-up the continent’s resilience to react to future crises and making good use of lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

A good skillset is essential for Europe’s growth and the COVID-19 pandemic proved that digital skills are key to work, study, access goods and services, and keep in touch with our loved ones. On the other hand, citizens need to have the right opportunities to improve their skills and therefore, keep companies competitive. Hopefully, the European Skills Agenda is the first step in the right direction.