At an event in Strasbourg, the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Victor Negrescu, marked the official launch of the first European Parliament Intergroup on Education and Skills, an important initiative of the Romanian MEP which brings together over 100 MEPs interested in promoting the importance of education and training as strategic priorities of the European Union. On this occasion, the members of the intergroup called for the creation of a European plan dedicated to education and skills amounting to 20% of the future long-term European budget post-2027.

Strategic investment for Europe’s future

”Investing in education is not only a moral responsibility but also an economic necessity. Without a dedicated European plan for education and skills and a solid financial commitment, we risk failing to give young Europeans the tools they need to face the challenges of the future. This is why we propose a 20% allocation of the future European budget for education and skills, so that Europe can respond to the demands of a competitive global economy, ensure high-quality education for all, improve access to educational services and reduce inequalities in this area”, said the Vice-President of the European Parliament and co-chair of the intergroup, Victor Negrescu.

The urgent need for a significant increase of European funding for education

Statistics show that education and skills training currently receive an average allocation of around 8% per year in the multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027. For example, in 2025, around 6% of the EU budget will be allocated to education alone, equivalent to around €12 billion out of an annual budget of €200 billion. MEP Victor Negrescu also recalled his own initiative whereby 10% of the funds dedicated to national recovery and resilience plans went to education. In this context, on his initiative, the intergroup will propose an increase of funding to at least €40 billion per year in the next long-term European budget to support lifelong learning, digitization and innovation in education, as well as investment in educational infrastructure.

The Draghi report warns of the skills shortage in Europe: a quarter of European companies have difficulties finding the right employees, while half of them report moderate difficulties. The Letta report also underlines the importance of investing in education to reduce regional disparities and boost European competitiveness.

A call for a more competitive Europe through education

The Intergroup on the Future of Education and Skills for a Competitive Europe will work with education experts and institutional actors to promote policies that facilitate equitable access to high-quality education. The priorities of the intergroup include:

• Establish a European investment framework for education and skills;
• Increase funding for Erasmus+;
• Simplify access to funding for education programs;
• Support a single framework for skills, similar to the European Single Market;
• Investment in education infrastructure and lifelong learning.

”Without a strong education and training system, Europe will not be able to meet the challenges of the future. Investment in education must be seen as a catalyst for economic development and innovation. We need an integrated strategy with a focus on digital skills, support for teachers and equitable access to high-quality education. We call for a strong commitment from all decision makers to make education a real priority in the European budget”, concluded Social Democrat MEP Victor Negrescu.

The launch of the intergroup is an essential step in supporting education at European level and prioritizing investments to reduce educational gaps, lifelong learning and ensure Europe’s economic competitiveness in the years to come.

The event included interventions by Victor Negrescu, Vice-President of the European Parliament and Co-Chair of the Intergroup, Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Eleonora Meleti, EPP Coordinator of the FEMM Committee and Co-Chair of the Intergroup, Brigitte van den Berg, Co-Chair of the Intergroup, Nela Riehl, Chair of the CULT Committee and Co-Chair of the Intergroup, as well as representatives from The Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP) and The European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE), who provided perspectives from the education sector and employers in the field.