On 5 May, the European Parliament’s Committees on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and on Culture and Education (CULT) held a joint discussion with Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs, and Preparedness, focusing on the Union of Skills.  

The exchange underscored the critical need for investments in skills development, reskilling, and upskilling to enhance Europe’s competitiveness. Special attention was given to the role of EU funding programmes – particularly Erasmus+ and the European Social Fund+ – in supporting these goals. Commissioner Mînzatu reaffirmed the intention to reinforce Erasmus+ in the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), while acknowledging that future budget allocations remain uncertain. In light of the current political climate, she stressed the importance of complementing Erasmus+ with additional public and private funding to expand its reach. The Commissioner also emphasised that ESF+ will continue to serve as the main funding tool for upskilling efforts and should be appropriately financed in the next MFF.