Union of Skills: striving for more and better opportunities to study, train or work in the EU and to bring our talents back home (debate)
Nela Riehl, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – MrPresident, dear Commissioner, it's time to acknowledge the reality. An unreliable US, an emboldened Russia and hybrid warfare knocking at our doors. But let's be clear: peace isn't just secured by military alone, it's safeguarded by people upholding our democracies. To protect European democracy, we must strengthen it against these destabilisation efforts. This is why we need widespread, high‑quality education in Europe. Everyone has has the right to be active citizens, be trained for coming changes and leverage their potential against destabilisation.
Many of the high costs Europe faces today are a result of failing to prepare for them in the past in time, whether on defence, energy or climate. When we act too late, we end up paying dearly. So one thing is very clear: we need a Union of Skills now, so thank you very much for that. Investing in people is not just a choice; it's a necessity, and an urgent one.
Let's be even more ambitious. When we say people need training, let's make a wider training directive. When we say strengthen Erasmus, let's significantly increase the budget. When we say active citizenship and hybrid war, let's define strategic targets of civic education.