​In autumn 2022, the European Commission proposed to make 2023 the European Year of Skills, a proposal that was widely embraced by other EU institutions and stakeholders.

The implementation of the Year was the main subject of a debate organized during the 153rd plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions, held on 9 February in Brussels. The panel included Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Dragoş Pîslaru MEP, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Jürgen Siebel, Executive Director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) and Noelia Cantero, Director of the European Association of Regional & Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning (EARLALL), followed by a debate with CoR members.

During the debate, our group's first vice president and member of the Cork City Council, Kieran McCarthy presented the annual Cork Lifelong Learning Festival and its importance for fostering the lifelong learning culture in the city. Cllr McCarthy also reminded the panelists of the ambitious targets set by the Porto Social Summit in 2021, that is, at least 60% of adults participating in learning by 2030, and enquired on measures needed to achieve them.