[DRAFT] Still Relevant After 50 Years: A Reality Check for Cedefop

By Maria, Guilherme, Emilie and Chris

Source: https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en

Still Relevant After 50 Years: A Reality Check for Cedefop

Cedefop turns 50!

In a world where labour markets are evolving rapidly, driven by digital transitions, demographic shifts, and green ambitions, it is vital that EU education and skills development is set up for success. Marking its 50th anniversary in 2025, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) has been a cornerstone of EU cooperation in education and skills development. Some critics might question the effectiveness of Cedefop, pointing to its lack of enforcement powers as a barrier to achieving its goals. But when one looks at these goals, the role of Cedefop remains relevant and important in achieving the mission to enhance cooperation and knowledge-sharing among Member States in the field of vocational education and training (VET).

Is ‘soft power’ enough to shape the future of work?

Cedefop’s mandate is broad, and it relies solely on soft powers to achieve this. The term ‘soft power’ usually describes an ability to influence others through shared values, consensus, and cooperation, rather than through legislation or formal authority.

In practice, Cedefop has focused on two main goals: enhancing transparency in qualifications and facilitating transferability of learning outcomes across Member States. These goals support freedom of movement for learners and workers, so that credentials in one country are understood and accepted in another. This naturally raises the question about whether Cedefop has effectively fulfilled these goals.

When outcomes are seen as beneficial, rather than being forced, there is generally less pushback from governments and other actors. For many EU countries, vocational education and training has a direct influence on efforts to reduce unemployment, especially for people who may lack skills relevant to changing labour markets.

 

This figure shows the support from EU citizens to the statement: “Vocational education and training play an important role in reducing unemployment in your country”.

The skills puzzle: solving labour gaps through EU cooperation

Zooming into cooperation, there is still room for improvement. Cedefop’s effectiveness in VET partly depends on how closely it works with Member States, social partners, the European Commission, and the European Parliament. By gathering data and sharing knowledge, Cedefop encourages different national and EU-level actors to align strategies in addressing skills mismatches.

During the European Year of Skills 2023, particular emphasis was placed on upskilling and reskilling, lifelong learning, and fostering both innovation and competitiveness. These aims also support people and businesses in meeting green and digital objectives. Recognising the importance of collective efforts, and in celebrating 50 years of activity, Cedefop joined the  Eurofound, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), the European Training Foundation (ETF) and the European Labour Authority (ELA), in hosting a major event. This gathering highlighted how the five agencies contribute to enhancing skills development.

In discussions with the Parliament and Commission, Cedefop presented its latest report: Skills in transition – the way to 2035. The report’s key message was that Europe is facing urgent labour shortages, especially in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and IT fields. Green and digital transitions are rapidly reshaping Europe’s labour market. To remain competitive and resilient, Europe needs well-targeted policy decisions and a fresh approach to skill-building.

Navigating duplication risks and collaborative leadership

Questions arise about overlapping responsibilities between EU agencies. Cedefop, Eurofound, and EU-OSHA share certain priorities, including improving working conditions and aligning skills with the needs of evolving economies. Nevertheless, Cedefop’s soft-power strategies continue to offer added value. It promotes collaboration by disseminating research, guiding Member States on reskilling, and working closely with other agencies to produce policy recommendations that address real-world challenges. Together, they act as “political entrepreneurs,” pushing Europe’s skills agenda forward.

Still, as Cedefop cannot compel countries to adopt its insights, progress depends on politicians and policymakers embracing them. This reality often leads to uneven outcomes; some countries quickly integrate Cedefop’s recommendations, while others may hold back. Another common concern is “duplication risk,” where different agencies might be seen as doing the same work. Cedefop’s defenders point out that each EU agency has a specific focus: Cedefop zeroes in on vocational training, Eurofound studies broader social and work conditions, and EU-OSHA looks at safety and health. Where their work converges, they aim to coordinate rather than compete.

Inconsistent Adoption of Cedefop’s Recommendations Across EU Member States

Cedefop has made recommendations for improving access to skills development and adult learning, particularly for marginalised groups. One approach Cedefop endorses is the use of financial assistance for vulnerable learners. However, the adoption of these recommendations has been far from uniform across EU Member States, with progress varying widely.

For example, Germany offers support through the National Skills Strategy for low-qualified adults who may otherwise struggle, and France has a similar program, Compte Personnel de Formation, allowing individuals, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to access training. Both initiatives align with Cedefop’s goals at making upskilling more accessible.

In contrast,  Bulgaria remains in the early stages of reforming their VET system. Although there are positive indications, reforming VET can take time as it often faces challenges like legislative changes and budgetary allocations which slow the pace of progress. Romania records one of the lowest levels of adult learning participation in the EU, raising concerns about whether people there can adapt to ongoing economic and technological changes.

These discrepancies highlight the need for a more consistent approach to improving skills development across Europe. However, they also indicate that responsibility does not rest with Cedefop. Given the number of EU citizens who agree that VET plays an important role in reducing unemployment, it should be clear there is incentive to work with Cedefop in improving VET.

Shaping the future

Cedefop’s impact is greatest when stakeholders recognise the tangible benefits and engage with Cedefop’s contributions to VET development. By continuing to promote advancements to VET systems, Cedefop reinforces its central role in building a competitive, forward-looking EU workforce. These efforts show that lacking enforcement powers does not necessarily limit an agency’s ability to make a difference.

Even if Cedefop’s goals remain aspirational, its contributions to policy debates and collaborative initiatives show that progress is possible despite the constraints of soft power. With half a century of experience rooted in research, collaboration, and policy, Cedefop remains committed to making VET and skills development accessible to everyone, always keeping a future-oriented perspective.

In the end, the lack of direct enforcement powers reflects the EU’s decision to preserve Member State sovereignty over education. As labour markets continue to evolve, vocational education will likewise transform, and a central EU-level body devoted to coordinating these changes seems likely to remain important. It is still an open question whether exclusive reliance on soft powers is the most effective long-term strategy for shaping vocational education, training, and skills policies, but the work of Cedefop over the past 50 years provides plenty of evidence that such an approach can achieve significant results.

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