On 4 June, the European Commission published its European Semester Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) and Country Reports (CRs), known as the ‘ Spring Package ’. The Semester is the EU mechanism used to ensure coordination across economic and social policies amongst Member States, with the CSRs representing the corrective course prescribed by the Commission to ensure Member States meet its annual economic and social priorities. The second mandate of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was launched with a series of big promises embodied by flagship initiatives; as a result, the Union of Skills had a significant influence over the current European Semester cycle. As was anticipated by the Communication , each EU Member State received at least one recommendation on education and skills. Ireland is the only country not receiving a specific CSR for education, but did so on skills, while the rest had at least one recommendation for education and one for skills. Read our full Reaction using this link Image by Antoine Schibler via Unsplash

On 1-2 July 2025, the Lifelong Learning Platform held its annual General Assembly in Brussels. In an extended two-day version, it brought together the whole membership to approve reports and plans, as well as to elect new representatives and engage in forward-looking discussions with decision makers.  LLLP High-Level Policy Debates The event opened on July 1st at the European Parliament, where policy-makers and civil society organisations gathered to discuss the future of lifelong learning in Europe. The event was hosted by MEP Victor Negrescu, Vice President of the European Parliament, in his capacity of co-chair of the Intergroup on the Future of Educaiton and Skills for a Competitive Europe; the Executive Vice President of the European Commission Roxana Minzatu delivered the keynote address. They both expressed their intention to fight for inclusive education systems, that value learning in and beyond the formal systems.   Two distinguished panel discussions with high-level representatives from the EU institutions, specialised agencies, UNESCO and OECD provided much-needed insights into upcoming initiatives and the role of evidence and data in policy-making.  General Assembly 2025 On July 2nd, the actual General Assembly took place. Members of LLLP approved without reserves financial reports and programmatic documents and they also elected new members of the Steering Committee, our administrative body. Raffaela Kihrer (EAEA) was confirmed for a second mandate; Giulia Meschino (EVTA) and Dea Kralj (ALL DIGITAL) were also elected as members of the Steering Committee, as the mandates of Monica Verzola (EVTA) and Marta Concepcion Mederos (WOSM) came to an end. The whole Lifelong Learning Platform wishes to thank Monica and Marta for their unwavering energy and commitment to advancing the role of lifelong learning in Europe - and beyond. LLLP is also dleighted to announce that two new members have joined the lifelong learning family: the European Basic Skills Network and the International Yehudi Menhuin Foundation . Both were approved by acclamation. The General Assembly also approved of the change in membership status of EMDR Europe , which is now a full member of LLLP. Both days were centred on the celebrations of LLLP’s 20th anniversary. Members and guests took stock of the progress that LLLP made in its first 20 years of life, laying the foundations for the work in the years to come, starting with a renewed manifesto and vision for lifelong learning in Europe.

The European Parliament Intergroup on the Future of Education and Skills for a Competitive Europe echoes the Union of Skills’ statement that ‘Education and skills are an investment - not a cost - which yields benefits many times over’. In view of the upcoming proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 (MFF), the European Commission has now the chance to fully stand by its declaration to meet European objectives and targets in the field of education and training. Within this context, the Intergroup calls for a strong investment that matches EU’s ambitions, especially in light of the consistent underinvestment in the education and training sector (less than 5% of GDP and less than 20% of public expenditure). The next MFF needs to clearly underline the joint responsibility for education and training, encouraging Member States to dedicate at least 5% of GDP to education and at least 1% of GDP for training. The Intergroup calls for the next EU budget to recognise the value of education and training in its universality and invest meaningfully in it: Stronger Funding Commitments under the new MFF A Stronger Erasmus+ Key measures to ease investment in education and training The Intergroup calls on the European Commission to deliver its objectives and proposals, and on the EU Member States to put education and skills at the centre of the EU’s renewal.   Read the full Declaration here

CS SOTEU 2025 Press Release As the European Commission President prepares to deliver her State of the Union address on the current overall condition of the EU, how can civil society make our collective voice known on the matters that affect citizens the most? This is why Civil Society Europe, along with a large group of civil society organisations, present our ‘Civil Society State of the Union 2025’ report . This document is both a response and a proposal - it aims to present the EU’s current state and propose solutions for positive change. Since 2023, CSE’s working group on the state of the union has been working tirelessly to support civil society and citizens’ participation in the EU, and follow-up on the Conference on the Future of Europe and its final proposals. This document is split into six sections, each addressing a specific area: Strengthening democracy, fundamental rights and civic space in the EU and the world Enhancing freedom of movement and solidarity for a more inclusive European society A socially just EU Averting the planetary crisis through climate action, nature restoration and sustainable resource use A digital transformation that leaves no one behind in the EU Shielding European society through human-centred security & readiness policies When compared to our 2023 State of the Union report, we see the alarming decline in democracy, human rights and the rule of law has continued across the EU. Amidst climbing global political tensions, the EU must incorporate a holistic approach, factoring in all sectors of our society, while reinforcing the role civil society plays. “This report is crucial for the next period of EU decision-making to fill gaps in some areas and set the agenda in others. The rapid changes we all see require timely and sustainable responses. As independent civil society organisations representing a wide range of citizens’ experiences and interests, we offer clear analysis rooted in lived experience and grassroots contexts.“ - Gabriella Civico, President of Civil Society Europe. We hope this document provides a sound basis as we work towards a democratic, socially, and environmentally just EU. Read the full report now.

Eight months ago, President’s von der Leyen announce d that 2023 will be the European Year of Skills (EYS). On 9 May, the momentous Europe Day, the starting signal was given for a year in which the EU institutions will focus on skills development across the Union. The Lifelong Learning Platform welcomes this initiative but draws attention to the need to uphold the values of the EU and take decisive action to achieve lifelong learning for the personal and professional development and participation of all in society. The following shortcomings suggest that more needs to be done to achieve this: Only 54% of adults aged 16-74 have basic digital skills Only 10.8% of people aged 25-64 engaged in training Sustainability learning lacks a structural approach across education and training systems Almost 10% of pupils were qualified as early leavers Almost 23% of learners underachieve in literacy, mathematics and science These occur as the climate crisis, the unpredictability of disruptive technology, the commodification of education, the lowering participation in democratic processes, the attacks on civil society threaten the societal fabric. While lifelong learning is a necessity in the face of such challenges, the finalised EYS resolution as well as the Trilogue negotiations narrowed the Year’s focus to labour market needs. Choosing to provide ICT specialists and green sector experts that can support businesses to adapt to the twin transitions represents a small part of what learners and societies need right now to tackle the wide diversity of challenges. Read the full reaction here

EucA has a vacancy open for a Digital Communications Assistant to join the Brussels office this September 2025. This is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates or Erasmus+ trainees interested in digital storytelling, social media, and European affairs to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic international environment. The selected candidate will support EucA’s communications team in managing social media channels, developing digital content, coordinating newsletters, and promoting international events and EU-funded projects. When? Starting September 2025 Where? Brussels, Belgium (remote not accepted) Duration: 3-month trial period, with possibility of renewal (6–12 months) Compensation: €1,200/month Eligibility: Recent graduates and Erasmus+ trainees welcome Contact: mg.palocci@euca.eu Deadline: 30 June 2025 Learn more about the vacancy here!

The Erasmus Student Network launches a new edition of Europe’s largest student-led survey focusing on student exchanges and Erasmus+ The Erasmus Student Network (ESN), the largest student organisation supporting international student mobility in 46 European and Asian countries, has launched a new edition of its flagship research project, the ESNsurvey . The 16th edition of the ESNsurvey is now open and will be accepting responses from the 29th of May until the 31st of July . The ESNsurvey is Europe’s largest student-led research project on international student mobility, carried out solely by volunteers . Every two years, it collects insights from students to help shape and improve mobility programmes such as Erasmus+ and other relevant mobility programmes. The survey seeks to monitor the implementation of mobility programmes and the experience of international learners abroad, as well as the perceptions of students who have not participated in international student mobility yet . With 15 editions completed over the past 20 years , the survey has informed institutions, policymakers, and programme designers with real insights from the student perspective. This year’s edition invites responses from: Students who have taken part in a mobility exchange in the past two years; International full-degree students currently studying abroad or who have done so in the past two years; Non-mobile students who have not gone abroad — to share their reasons for not participating yet. The ESNsurvey is now open to graduates who previously participated in a mobility programme and are currently in employment. Their responses will help identify how international experiences have contributed to skills development and career opportunities , supporting the European Commission’s ambition to build a Union of Skills. The theme of this edition, “The Future of International Student Mobility” , reflects a critical moment in the evolution of European Higher Education. As discussions continue around the next Erasmus+ programme and budget, it is more important than ever to understand students' experiences and expectations. A key focus will be on teaching and learning during mobility , and how students envision the future of flexible learning pathways , particularly in the context of the European Degree proposal. Thanks to ESN's partners committed to accessible and sustainable mobility, this year’s survey offers rewards to students in exchange for sharing their experiences: 1 of 5 Interrail Global Passes; A 2-night stay in a Meininger Hotel; Or 1 of 2 Ryanair vouchers worth €50. The ESNsurvey XVI can be accessed through the following link: http://esnsurvey.org Spread the word and make every student’s voice heard!

LLLP is searching for an enthusiastic Project and Communication Assistant to join our team starting July 15, 2025 for a 6-month journey of learning and creativity! Working with a very small and polyvalent team in the heart of Brussels, the Project and Communication assistant will have to be able to deal with various tasks related to the daily management of ongoing projects and the drafting of content for external communication channels. This demands significant flexibility and a strong willingness to engage in the field of lifelong learning. If you’re between 18-35 years old with a passion for education, and skills in event planning, social media, website management, and graphic design—this is for you! Perks: Free accommodation with expenses covered, thanks to the Eurodyssey programme ! Apply in 3 simple steps: What is Eurodyssey? Eurodyssey is the oldest youth mobility programme in Europe! The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is an international, membership-based non-profit association. Created in 1985, it is the largest independent network of regions across Europe. The AER created the Eurodyssey Programme (at the time, “European Youth Tour”) the year it was founded, under the Presidency of Edgar Faure. The AER undertakes the general coordination Eurodyssey, in partnership with the Regions participating in the programme. The AER is responsible for the general framework conditions of the programme, its general development and promotion, while the Regions are in charge of the practical implementation of the programme, most importantly all aspects surrounding the hosting and sending of trainees (from accommodation to traineeship offers, remuneration, language course, social and cultural activities). Check if your region is a Eurodyssey member here . Create your profile on the Eurodyssey website and apply for this opportunity here . Boost your career while making a global impact!

The Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP), in cooperation with Springer’s International Handbook of Lifelong Learning, launched a new series of webinars to present cutting-edge research on lifelong learning to an interested audience. In a compact format, individual research findings and critical reflections on burning issues, such as the ecology of lifelong-lifewide learning for sustainable generative futures or learning for climate justice will be presented and discussed in the focus of social/political and the economic. The third episode of the series will take place on 11 June, online, at 10.00 CET. We are living at a time when the future for humanity, and many other living things, looks uncertain and bleak. We need to change in so many ways if our planet and the life it sustains is to continue as we know it. As Barnet points out, ‘if learning [has] a purpose then surely it must be to learn how to live on this tiny planet.’ This has always been the case but there is an urgency like never before as we recognise the depth and scale of change needed to create a future that is more sustainable than the one we are currently heading for. If this is the overarching imperative for humanity’s lifelong learning and future survival, what concepts of lifelong learning do we need to enable us to learn to live in ways that will help sustain the planet and its life supporting systems? Policies play a critical role in turning the vision of lifelong learning into a reality for everyone. However, even the most well-crafted policies have their limitations. An overly optimistic view of what lifelong learning policies can achieve necessitates a careful, critical examination. Are the intended goals being met? Are potential negative effects being mitigated? Who truly benefits from these policies, and who might be disadvantaged by them? AGENDA 10.00 Welcome words Elisa Gambardella, President of the Lifelong Learning Platform Dr. Balázs Németh, Vice President of the Lifelong Learning Platform, eucen Ambassador and University of Pécs 10.05 Introduction by co-host Karen Evans as co-editor of the 3rd International Handbook on Lifelong Learning 10.20 Keynote Séamus O Tuama: Taking Forward Perspectives on Reflexivity in Learning: Five Capitals Discussant: Arne Carlsen, Former Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning and Co-Chair of the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame Europe 10.50 Q&A 11.15 Closing remarks by co-host Dr. Balázs Németh, Vice President of the Lifelong Learning Platform, eucen Ambassador and University of Pécs

In the 2018 Standard Eurobarometer 90, Europeans ranked the Erasmus+ Programme as the 4th greatest achievement of the EU , just behind free movement, peace and the euro. The high appreciation is reflected in the growing participation in the programme. In 2024, the EU reached 16.5 million Europeans benefitting from the programme , a doubling participation since 2014. However, this is still miles away from the citizens’ demands during the Conference on the Future of Europe, where they demanded universal access to the Erasmus+ programme. The programme has gradually expanded beyond learning mobility, starting with previous iterations, though learning mobility still accounts for 70% of its budget . Nevertheless, the 30% focused on cooperation and policy has yielded initiatives tackling urgent challenges for our sector, such as the Erasmus Teacher Academies, European University Alliances, the EU Youth Strategy or Centres for Vocational Excellence to name a few. Erasmus+ is more than a mobility scheme, it is a catalyst for European cooperation. Its capacity to support education policy reforms must be fully leveraged to address long-standing and deep-rooted challenges across Member States. In this regard it is also crucial to acknowledge the importance of EU-wide civil society networks supporting coordination across all beneficiaries of the programme in this context. Europe is reconsidering its own political, social, environmental and economic vision for a future in which it boosts its stature. The democratic resilience of the EU, its preparedness for any upcoming crisis and its competitiveness are key elements to be addressed for the long-term future of the EU project. All of them crucially hinge on Europeans with the right competences and with access to lifelong learning. While their commitment to the EU project has been effectively strengthened year by year by means of Erasmus+ projects and initiatives. The programme is one of the most effective tools for promoting cohesion and solidarity, nurturing a shared European identity, while bringing people together to advance equality, inclusion and the twin transition. Read the full statement here

The Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) comes at a time where citizens’ confidence in national governments and, by consequence, in European institutions is constantly decreasing. Moreover, the current health crisis is turning into a democratic crisis dividing citizens and spreading hate speech from all sides. Social movements are evolving and citizens’ engagement is on the rise, and yet they remain unheard. The CoFoE is a crucial democratic exercise that the Lifelong Learning Platform welcomes: in times of struggle, it is an important reminder that active citizenship and participation in political life should not be limited to elections, but are rather continually exercised at different levels and times. It can help bring Europe closer to its citizens – and vice versa. At the same time, LLLP holds that the Conference can substantially contribute to an ongoing process of discussing the very essence of civil dialogue mechanisms in the EU and Member States. The need for such a structured dialogue cannot be questioned – as it is an enabler of basic democratic rights – but the efficacy and real impact of such mechanisms should be the object of discussion. The time of top-down policy and decision-making is coming to an end and we must prepare for new ways of deliberating, with citizens at the heart. Read the full statement here

On 5 March, the European Commission published its Union of Skills Communication . This much-awaited initiative charts the EU strategy on education and training up until 2030, bringing together all existing initiatives. The Lifelong Learning Platform welcomes the launch of the Union of Skills, identifying many civil society demands being taken on board based on the consultations organised by the European Commission. Read our statment here .   Nevertheless, considering the manifold challenges that the EU is facing and the urgency for more robust education and training systems across the EU and better tailored learning opportunities for all, we hoped for more ambition across several key aspects of the Union of Skills. LLLP supported and is aligned with the analysis made by the Intergroup on the Future of Education and Skills for a Competitive Europe in their recently launched Press Release. The Intergroup hoped for clearer references to a stronger Erasmus+ programme and more financing for education and training, especially in the form of a right to training for all. The Intergroup has also highlighted the positive references to transversal competences, especially competences for active citizenship, but noted that no specific targets or action plans have been developed in this direction. Moreover, the lifelong learning perspective is not fully mainstreamed, with many initiatives developed in a way that targets only one segment of learners. The clearest example would be the focus on basic skills for young learners, while limited consideration for adults’ development of basic skills is provided.   The Union of Skills is only in an inception phase, which will be followed with extensive consultations with stakeholders on how to achieve this vision. The Lifelong Learning Platform is looking forward to being part of the European Skills High Level Board. In this capacity, we are excited to work together with both the European Commission and the European Parliament, namely the Intergroup on the Future of Education and Skills, to make lifelong learning a reality for all. In the meantime, read the Intergroup’s Press Release below. Intergroup’s Press Release: Call for a More Ambitious Union of Skills