The European Commission has announced a dialogue with local authorities and civil society organisations on 12 November 2026, focusing on skills development in international partnerships. Commissioner Jozef Síkela will host the meeting.
Training and local needs
Discussions will explore links between training and employment opportunities, stronger partnerships, implementation barriers and possible simplification measures. Inclusive access to skills will inform the discussion of the local impact of European investment. The Commission will publish conclusions after the meeting.
The Focus Europe perspective
For public bodies and organisations in the Focus Europe ETS network, this offers a practical starting point: build cooperation projects around community needs. Mapping existing skills, identifying learning needs and involving training providers can help define activities and expected outcomes.
Cooperation between local areas can support the exchange of experience and the search for partners with complementary expertise. From this perspective, European project development and training can work together towards objectives that communities can recognise and assess.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, announcement of 4 November 2026. Summary and contextual commentary by Focus Europe ETS.
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Image: European Commission / European Union, from the official initiative page.