Free movement of workers is a cornerstone of the European single market, yet qualifications and skills do not always travel freely with the worker. Despite a binding EU instrument in place since 2005, recognition procedures remain complex, lengthy and unevenly applied across Member States. With labour shortages affecting key sectors and around 10 million EU citizens working abroad, there is a need for further EU action. The European Commission’s skills portability initiative, expected in the third quarter of 2026, aims to address these persistent barriers.
Source : © European Union, 2026 – EP