Speech by Commissioner Iliana Ivanova at the press conference on the Talent Mobility Package

Ladies and gentlemen,

In Europe, we aim for universal access to high-quality education and training, allowing people to study and work anywhere on the continent.

Studying abroad should be a standard and accessible option for everyone, regardless of age, education level, or financial situation.

Initiatives like Erasmus+ have seen remarkable success. They have flung open the doors for students, teachers, and many others to experience different cultures and systems.

Yet only a fraction - 15%, to be precise - of our graduates have studied abroad. We must do better.

This is why today, we are proposing a Council Recommendation on a renewed learning mobility framework. This is a key building block of the European Education Area, where learners and knowledge circulate freely.

We are introducing three game-changing initiatives:

Firstly, we are opening doors to learning mobility.

We are calling on member states to integrate learning mobility into all education and training sectors - higher education, vocational training, school education, adult education, and youth exchanges.

Our goal is to broaden access so that more students can benefit, including those with disabilities and limited opportunities.

This is because mobility enriches skills and is highly valued by employers. We believe everyone deserves the chance to acquire these skills, not just a select few.

Secondly, we are setting ambitious goals for 2030.

We are raising the bar, aiming to see at least 25% of higher education graduates with mobility experience instead of the current goal of 20%.

For vocational learners, we are raising the target to 15% participation in mobility programmes.

At the same time, we are tearing down the barriers for those hindered by economic, social, cultural or geographic constraints. We are targeting at least 20% mobility participation from these groups.

Quality education and equal opportunities are not mere concepts; they are the pillars of the European Education Area and of our shared European identity.

Thirdly, we are empowering teachers and apprentices.

Teachers are vital in encouraging learning mobility, and we are championing a new policy framework that encourages their own participation in mobility programmes.

By promoting teacher mobility, we are investing in professional development and enhancing the appeal of teaching as a career.

We are also focusing on apprentices, striving to overcome challenges and disparities in European systems to promote mobility that enriches their vocational journey.

Activities like job shadowing, professional development courses and long-term placements will spread best practices, advance the use of innovative methods, and address skill gaps. This will increase the employment prospects of our young people.

These initiatives pave the way for a future where every European can embrace valuable learning experiences abroad, moulding a workforce that is skilled, inclusive, and mobile.

How shall we accomplish this?

We invite the Member States to provide systemic learning mobility opportunities and information about them. All learners should have an opportunity for learning mobility as part of their study or training, exchanges or volunteering activities.

We also recommend that the national authorities enhance language learning. This is a basic condition for successful mobility.

In addition, there is room for improvement in recognition of qualifications and outcomes of the learning periods abroad, and digital technologies can streamline the entire process.

And while we bolster mobility within Europe, let us not forget our global role. This is where this Recommendation links up with - and reinforces - the other elements of the package that we are presenting today.

We are part of a larger narrative, one that positions the EU as the nexus for global learning.

We are committed to establishing the EU as the premier destination for learning worldwide, creating a Europe that shines as a beacon of opportunity, attracting the brightest minds from every corner of the world.

Our next steps are clear.

We encourage the Member States to turn these recommendations into national action plans to guide their work from 2025-2030.

The Commission stands ready to support this work.

We will use the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes to promote tools that support learning mobility and validation of outcomes.

We will develop the European Universities Alliance further.

We will provide expertise and guide the preparation of the action plans.

We will build synergies between the EU programmes addressing learning mobility, such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, and other funding instruments at EU, international, national and regional level, such as Cohesion policy funds, in particular European Social Fund Plus.

We will map existing initiatives and instruments for best impact and to avoid duplication of efforts.

Together, we are not just breaking down barriers to education; we are building bridges.

Bridges that connect not just our countries but our people. They lead to a more connected, educated, and capable Europe, ready to rise to the challenges of our shared future.

Thank you.