6th March 2025
On March 5th, EIT Health proudly participated in the official Brussels launch of the Union of Skills, a landmark European Commission initiative aimed at equipping Europe’s workforce with the skills needed for the future. The initiative, spearheaded by DG EMPL (Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs, and Inclusion), outlines a bold vision for tackling skills shortages, advancing the green and digital transitions, and ensuring qualifications recognition across borders.
The launch coincides with the publication of a new Union of Skills action plan, setting out the key steps to bring this vision to life. This follows extensive consultation with business leaders and industry experts, including EIT Health, who are recognised as playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare industry workforce development in Europe.
A key player in shaping the Union of Skills
As part of the consultation process, EIT Health CEO Jean-Marc Bourez met with Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu to give insights into the key challenges faced by the European healthcare industry workforce from SMEs and large corporates and how to overcome them. The meeting brought together 10 leading experts from the Pact for Skills and the European Alliance for Apprenticeships, tackling some of the most pressing issues in workforce development.
“It’s time to take bold action to shape the future of Europe’s skills development,” said Jean-Marc Bourez. “This is key to improving our competitiveness, fostering cross-country cooperation, bolstering private and public partnership and promoting gender inclusion.”
Building on the Pact for Skills and BRIGHTskills
The Union of Skills is a progression from previous EU initiatives, including the Pact for Skills, which EIT Health has been leading for the healthcare industry since December 2023. The Pact for Skills, a flagship action of the European Skills Agenda, is designed to help public and private organisations upskill and reskill their workforces.
EIT Health is at the forefront of this mission with 47 Pact for Skills signatory bodies. In March 2024, we joined forces with 26 organisations, including nine EIT Health members, to submit the BRIGHTskills project to the Erasmus+ Blueprint Call. By July 2024, the consortium received the news that BRIGHTskills had secured four years of EU funding, with EIT Health acting as coordinator. Implementation began in January 2025, further strengthening our role in Europe’s evolving skills landscape.
What’s next? A future built on collaboration
The success of the Union of Skills will rely on strong partnerships between policymakers, businesses, and education providers. Through initiatives like the Pact for Skills and BRIGHTskills, EIT Health is committed to bridging the gap between academia and industry, tackling regional disparities, and strengthening public-private partnerships.
As Europe embraces this new era of skills development, EIT Health is proud to be recognised as a key player in shaping the future healthcare workforce. By working together, we can future-proof Europe’s workforce, build a resilient and innovative healthcare sector, and ensure that no region is left behind.
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EIT Health welcomes the launch of the Union of Skills
A key EU initiative preparing Europe’s workforce for the future.