22.07.2024 advocacy, European Education Area, social inclusion

EAEA’s take on von der Leyen’s re-election: important commitments on skills and adult learning

EAEA welcomes the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission on July 18. Von der Leyen’s previous Commission has led crucial initiatives to put skills and adult learning at the top of the political agenda, notably the European Year of Skills 2023.

EAEA welcomes the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission on July 18. Von der Leyen’s previous Commission has led crucial initiatives to put skills and adult learning at the top of the political agenda, notably the European Year of Skills 2023. EAEA is pleased to see a renewed commitment to Adult Learning and Education (ALE) among the most prominent priorities of the Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024−2029.  

We will establish a Union of Skills – focusing on investment, adult and lifelong learning, skill retention and the recognition of different types of training to enable people to work across our Union.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission 2024−2029 

It is instrumental that the momentum built with the European Year of Skills is translated into meaningful, impactful and long-lasting change and, to this end, a Union of Skills is of paramount importance. In this process, we call the new Commission to value and recognise all types of learning both for the labour market and for personal development, social inclusion, solidarity, democratic participation, health and wellbeing. 

Text: EAEA

News

More news >
05.10.2026 ABC of ALE

Resilience-building in ALE from a community perspective at the ABC of ALE training 2026

What is the role of ALE in strengthening our democratic societies? How can we build community and resilience? These were the core questions of the ABC of ALE training 2026, organised from 28 September to 1 October by EAEA and supported by CVO Crescendo.

02.10.2026 advocacy

Adult Learning for a Changing World

To strengthen adult education worldwide and reinforce commitment to advancing adult learning and education (ALE), while recognising both its challenges and its important role in society, 142 UNESCO Member States adopted the Marrakech Framework for Action (MFA) in June 2022. Four years on from the adoption of the 2022 MFA, we now identify three central issues that EAEA believes deserve more attention: basic skills education, the digitalisation of work and global responsibility.

23.09.2026 key competences

Beyond the tatami: what can judo teach us about our own competences?

Sport and movement build more than physical strength. Read against the European Commission's LifeComp framework, judo is a great example of a practice that develops a wide span of personal, social, and learning-to-learn competences, from self-regulation and empathy to critical reflection and collaboration.