05.08.2026

Conference: Bridging the Gap: VET, Green Skills, and the Family Learning Ecosystem | Conference

Shaping a Resilient and Attractive Vocational Future

Organized in Brussels by the European Parents’ Association (EPA) in official partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in the framework of the EU-co-funded ECOFamilies Project

Why Attend?

The European green transition is not merely a technical challenge – it is a cultural and social transformation that begins in the home. While EU policy frequently focuses on industry output, parental perceptions remain one of the single strongest influences on career choices and Vocational Education and Training (VET) participation.

Building on the results of the Erasmus+ ECO-FAMILIES Project, this high-level conference breaks institutional silos by bringing together top EU decision-makers, leading European VET networks, civil society leaders, and parental representatives. Moving beyond standard project reviews, the event builds directly on recent EESC Opinions to operationalize green skills, address the “parental perception gap,” and launch a joint Actionable Policy Blueprint for 2030.

Event Snapshot

📅 Date: 8 September 2026

🕒 Time: 14:00 (in-person registration at 13:30) – 17:30 CEST (followed by a Reception)

📍 Venue: European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Rue Belliard 99, 1040 Brussels (Live online streaming available)

🤝 In-Person Exclusive: Interactive tool display and official Policy Networking Reception starting at 17:30 CEST

Key Highlights & Program

📄 DOWNLOAD THE FULL AGENDA & PROGRAM HERE (PDF)

High-Level Opening & Keynote: Insights from EESC Rapporteur Nicoletta Merlo, European Commission Director Manuela Geleng (DG EMPL, tbc), and Event Patron Dr. Renate Heinisch.
The ECOFamilies Model: Practical tools, AI-powered learning app, and grassroots data from the ECO-FAMILIES Project demonstrating how multigenerational learning boosts green skill adoption.
Panel 1 — The Institutional Pulse: Matching training to labor market demand with leaders from Cedefop, EVTA, LLLP, and European Parliament representatives.
Panel 2 — Grassroots Reality & VET Attractiveness: Tackling perception gaps directly with frontline perspectives from EfVET, EVBB, OBESSU, and EPA.
Launch of the 2030 Actionable Policy Blueprint: Presenting a joint civil society and VET roadmap to guide EU policy implementation through 2030

Institutional Leadership & Key Contributions

This conference brings together top decision-makers, European networks, and civil society leaders to drive the dialogue on green skills and VET attractiveness:

Nicoletta Merlo | EESC Member & Rapporteur

Rapporteur for the landmark EESC Opinion “How to ensure green skills and promote green vocational institutions” (SOC/833-EESC-2025). Nicoletta leads the call for systemic, inclusive educational models that align green skills with European labor market realities.

Brigitte van den Berg MEP | Member of the European Parliament (TBC)

Bringing European parliamentary perspectives to the institutional panel, focusing on skills policy, youth opportunities, and aligning EU legislative goals with grassroots education.

Representative (TBC) | Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), European Commission

Delivering the High-Level Keynote on behalf of DG EMPL, bringing institutional insight into how EU employment policies and skill agendas align with grassroots execution.

Jasper van Loo | Department Coordinator for VET and Skills, Cedefop

Leading Cedefop’s work on skills intelligence and labor market analysis, providing crucial evidence-based insights on green skill trends, labor market transition, and future vocational training needs across Europe.

Dr. Renate Heinisch | Patron of the Event, EPA Honorary Member & Former EESC/MEP Member

Holder of the Bundesverdienstkreuz, Dr. Heinisch brings decades of European parliamentary and institutional experience, advocating for intergenerational learning and family involvement in education policy.

Virginie Durin | Vice-President, European Parents’ Association (EPA), President of APEL National, France

Championing the family learning ecosystem, Virginie represents the parental voice across Europe, ensuring households are recognized as active partners in the green transition.

Featuring Expert Contributions & Panel Voices From:

European Commission (DG EMPL): Delivering a high-level keynote on EU employment policy, skills agendas, and regional execution.
European Vocational Training Association (EVTA): Operational perspectives on quality development, work-based learning, and internationalization across European VET providers.
Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP): Advocating for holistic education, active citizenship, and lifelong learning across civil society.
European Forum of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (EfVET): Direct insights and frontline experience from technical and vocational education practitioners across Europe.
European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB): Best practices on modernizing VET institutes and addressing skills mismatches on the ground.
Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU): Bringing the critical perspective of European school students and VET learners to the policy table.

Register Now

To ensure active dialogue and exchange, in-person attendance is strongly encouraged. Join us at the EESC in Brussels to engage directly with policymakers, experience the interactive tool displays, and join the closing Policy Networking Reception.

Due to EESC security protocols, prior registration for in-person attendance is required.

👉 REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE

(In-person seats are limited. Can’t join us in Brussels? The registration form also allows you to sign up for online hybrid access.)

Conference Background & Policy Context

Addressing three critical policy gaps identified across EU decision-making:

Bridging Institutional & Sectoral Silos: Education, labor market policy, and civil society often operate independently. This initiative brings VET providers (EVBB, EfVET, EVTA), Cedefop, and educational stakeholders directly into dialogue with civil society and the family ecosystem (EPA) to turn high-level European policies into field-tested solutions.
Closing the “Parental Perception Gap”: Parental guidance is a key driver of youth educational trajectories. To reach net-zero economic targets, VET must become a “first choice” career path. Modernizing VET requires an inclusive, multigenerational lifelong learning approach that prepares whole communities for the green economy.
Operationalizing EESC Recommendations: The conference acts as a direct delivery mechanism for key findings outlined in EESC Opinion SOC/833 (“How to ensure green skills and promote green vocational institutions”). By launching an Actionable Policy Blueprint for 2030, the event translates institutional policy advice into practical recommendations for EU Member States, VET centers, and civil society networks through 2030

About the ECO-FAMILIES Project

Parents are the ultimate role models for their children, playing a crucial role in fostering positive relationships with the environment and building an eco-minded generation. Facing challenges such as high household carbon footprints, food waste, and rapid climate change, the Erasmus+ ECO-FAMILIES Project was created to empower parents and adult educators with practical, accessible tools for sustainable eco-living practices.

Aligning directly with the EU Green Deal, the EU Climate Pact, the GreenComp framework, and the New European Bauhaus, the project turns European green goals into a cultural, human-centered, and tangible reality in everyday family life.

Core Aims & Objectives:

Empowering Adult Educators: Upgrading educator profiles under the GreenComp framework so they can deliver high-quality lifelong learning on green and sustainable competencies to parents.
Upskilling Parents for Eco-Living: Providing parents with accessible learning opportunities to adopt eco-friendly lifestyles that positively impact their households, children, and broader communities.
Digital Innovation & AI: Enhancing adult learning through engaging, innovative digital resources—including an AI-powered mobile app designed to overcome time constraints and resource barriers.
Building Dynamic Community Networks: Fostering local, national, and transnational networks to share best practices, co-design solutions for global green challenges, and create peer-to-peer communication channels for parents.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).