On April 30th 2024, The EGG hosted a major event, marking the close of the European Year of Skills, an initiative launched by President von der Leyen in her speech about the State of the European Union in September 2022. The event, which brought together hundreds of participants from all over Europe, highlighted essential skills and competencies as key resources for adult learners and the European workforce.

The closing event was a valuable opportunity to share successes and discuss the legacy of this flagship initiative. The year’s achievements were analysed in retrospect, with a reflection on the next steps to be taken. Although the European Year of Skills is coming to an end, the objective of putting the results obtained into practice remains a priority.

Participants had the opportunity to engage in policy panels and discussions with renowned speakers, listen to inspiring speeches, and take part in interactive discussion groups on a variety of specific topics. Key themes included the importance of effective skills policies and the need to maintain these skills at the top of Europe’s priorities.

The event underlined the continuing importance of investing in skills to ensure a prosperous future for all European citizens, and marked a crucial moment for the future direction of skills policies in Europe.