Skills4ADC+ supports dialogue on the future of Europe’s defence industry

Around 50 representatives from trade unions, employer organisations, European institutions, industry and NGOs gathered in Brussels for a Policy Roundtable on Defence, co-organised by Ceemet and industriAll Europe, with support from Skills4ADC+ project, on 21 October.

The meeting focused on the challenges facing Europe’s defence industry and the implications of its transformation for workers, employment and skills. Representatives from the European Commission’s DG DEFIS and DG Employment joined the discussions, which addressed the EU’s defence priorities and the need to align policy ambitions with industrial realities.

Participants highlighted the importance of involving social partners in policymaking from the outset. Cooperation between employers, trade unions, policymakers and industry is essential to anticipate skills needs, support workforce development and ensure access to quality jobs.

The roundtable reinforced the importance of social dialogue in supporting a sustainable transformation of Europe’s defence industry, with workers’ skills and training playing a central role in meeting the sector’s evolving needs.