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The Clean Industrial Deal, recently launched by the European Commission, represents a crucial pillar of the EU’s broader Green Deal strategy. This initiative aims to secure the competitiveness of Europe’s industry while accelerating green and digital transitions. The goal is clear: to build a climate-neutral and circular economy that remains globally competitive and socially fair.

One of the most strategic aspects of the Clean Industrial Deal is its strong focus on skills and quality jobs. The transition to a low-carbon, digital economy will not succeed without an adequately prepared workforce. The demand for competencies in clean technologies, energy efficiency, digitalisation, and green entrepreneurship is growing rapidly. As the Commission clearly states, Europe must invest in its people, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Adult learning systems are crucial in preparing the workforce for the green transition. The OECD highlights that while initial education lays the foundation, upskilling and reskilling through adult learning are essential to equip individuals with the necessary competencies for emerging green jobs. For this reason, the Clean Industrial Deal proposes the creation of a genuine “Union of Skills” — an ambitious concept which goes beyond education alone. It means building new partnerships between industry, training providers, and public authorities to shape upskilling and reskilling pathways aligned with future labour market needs.

And this is where EU funding instruments come into play.

Among them, Erasmus+ can and should play a key role. Traditionally associated with student mobility, over the years, Erasmus+ has become a strategic tool to support vocational education and training (VET), adult learning, and the development of sector-specific curricula in key green and digital domains. Up to €90 million will be mobilised to reinforce these efforts under the Clean Industrial Deal, particularly to address skills shortages and support innovation in training systems. It is essential to emphasise that Erasmus+ is not limited to schools or universities; it can also serve as a powerful catalyst for industrial transformation. As a result, we may expect many projects focusing on developing the above-mentioned skills by the first deadlines of next year.

The European Social Fund is another key EU instrument focused on people, with a significant share of its funding dedicated to training and capacity building. However, it remains to be seen whether Member States will choose to prioritise green upskilling and reskilling within their national programmes.

To conclude, the Deal also targets critical “horizontal enablers,” such as cutting red tape, improving policy coordination, and maximising the potential of the Single Market. But ultimately, its success will depend on people – on workers and learners – and their capacity to adapt and thrive in the new industrial era.

Written by: Cristina Ceccarelli