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Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council (Education and youth), 27 November 2025
Main results
Education
European competitiveness and the role of vocational education and training
The Council exchanged views on the role of vocational education and training (VET) in European competitiveness and resilience, with a view to addressing labour shortages and better matching skills with labour market needs.
Today’s discussion showed a strong shared commitment to strengthening vocational education and training as a foundation for Europe’s competitiveness. Addressing skills shortages and aligning education with labour market needs are urgent priorities if Europe is to remain resilient in the green and digital transitions.
Mattias Tesfaye, Danish Minister for Children and Education
Ministers reflected upon how to betteralign VET programmes with labour market needs while also ensuring high-quality, inclusive education and training for all VET learners.
They also discussed ways to increase the attractiveness of VET programmes and improve gender balance, particularly as regards STEM programmes.
The Council took note of the state of play of the draft resolution on the second cycle of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area (2026-2030).
The resolution sets out the work programme for cooperation at EU level in the areas of education and training over the next five years.
Ministers took note of a progress report presented by the Danish presidency on the Erasmus+ regulation for the period 2028-2034.
The proposal for a regulation was published on 16 July 2025 in the context of the multiannual financial framework. It provides for a budget of €40.8 billion and merges Erasmus+ with the European Solidarity Corps.
An informal lunch debate took place on the topic of ‘Mobility in initial and higher vocational education and training (VET)’.
Any other business
Other items on the Council’s agenda included the Commission’s 2025 Annual progress report on Simplification, Implementation and Enforcement.
Youth
Strengthening resilience through Erasmus+
An exchange of views took place entitled ‘Strengthening resilience among young people through Erasmus+ 2028-2034’.
The discussion focused on how the 2028-2034 Erasmus+ programme could contribute to strengthening resilience among young people in Europe, with a particular emphasis on what could be done at EU level to help countries increase the civic and democratic engagement of young people.
At the start of the discussion, a representative of the Danish Youth Council presented the outcomes of the EU Youth Conference, which took place in Copenhagen in September as part of the EU Youth Dialogue.
An informal breakfast debate was held on the topic of ‘Promoting resilience and engagement among young Europeans’. The debate took place within the framework of the EU Youth Dialogue.
