Politics and Analysis

New joint declaration to strengthen vocational education and training in Europe

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The Confederation of Danish Employers, DA, fully supports the Herning Declaration – a new common direction for vocational education and training in the EU towards 2030. The declaration focuses on quality, inclusion and better alignment with labour market needs – without overregulation.

At the informal Council meeting in Herning the 12^th of September 2025, the ministers responsible for education from the EU Member States adopted a new declaration that will help to increase the attractiveness of vocational education and training and strengthen European competitiveness.

DA fully supports the idea that vocational education and training should be made more attractive and that it should equip young people and adults for a rapidly changing labour market – characterised by digitalisation, green transition and demographic challenges.

- Vocational education and training plays a key role in ensuring Europe's competitiveness. With the Herning Declaration, we commit to further strengthening quality, mobility and labour market relevance – and to making vocational education and training an attractive choice for even more people. And that is really positive, says Jacob Holbraad, DA’s Director General.

The DA also considers it a strength that the declaration emphasises cooperation with social partners as crucial to ensuring relevant, high-quality vocational education and training.

The Herning Declaration sets the direction for future vocational education and training, which is based on high quality and the latest technologies and thus also reflects labour market demand. Stays abroad should also be promoted because they help make vocational education and training even more attractive.

Link to the Herning Declaration.