“Innovation, Sustainability, and Skills for the Future of Employment in Europe: Talent and Competencies in the Digital Age” was the title of the seminar held on 7, 8, and 9 March 2026 in Valencia / Spain. The seminar was organized by CEAT (Centro Español para Asuntos de los Trabajadores), supported by EZA and funded by the European Union. María Luisa Mezquita Juan, Director General of Planning and Services at Labora, opened the event, emphasizing the collaboration of European institutions and the need for informed, data-driven decisions rather than improvisation. Also participating in the opening were Sigrid Schraml, Secretary General of EZA; Piergiorgio Sciacqua, Co-President of EZA; Mercedes Hurtado, President of the Valencia Medical Association; and David Cervera, President of CEAT. They all agreed on the importance of strengthening the social dimension of employment, advocating for a European model centered on people, where technology and Artificial Intelligence complement workers' talents. They also highlighted the importance of lifelong learning, as society is changing rapidly due to automation, technology, and AI. 54 representatives of workers’ organizations participated in the event.
The forum addressed the key issues shaping the future of employment in Europe, combining political perspectives with input from experts and social stakeholders. Among the participants were Pablo Aledo Martínez (Director General of the Altius Foundation) and Antonio Camaró (Painter of Concord and Peace), who emphasized the importance of maintaining and preserving Europe's productive heritage. This entails integrating technological innovation without losing the trades, knowledge, and techniques that underpin our economic and cultural identity. Both stated that modernization must boost competitiveness while respecting territorial diversity and the value of traditional professions.
María José González, Director of the Microcredentials Department at CEU Cardenal Herrera University, highlighted the advantages for students and professionals of these short-term, yet impactful, university-recognized courses. He also expressed concern about the difficulties in recognizing these micro-credentials internationally due to the formats used to store metadata. In his opinion, the best formats are those that are more internationally standardized, which seems to conflict with European Union data protection legislation.
The seminar continued with a presentation by Tomás Perea, Deputy Director General of the MásHumano Foundation, who highlighted the differences between the generations currently working together and the importance of knowing how to channel the strengths of each generation. He explained that combining senior and junior skills in collaborative and intergenerational work enables greater competitiveness for companies. He also noted how his foundation is working with companies on training programs in this area and how they are changing their management approach to preserve, retain, and transmit talent, complementing it. This approach involves intergenerational mentoring within companies to maintain and enhance all talent.
The international panel was moderated by María Molina Hurtado, Director of Political Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement at the EPP, and featured presentations by Antonio Pedro Roque Oliveira, Member of the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal; Michael Schediwy-Klusek, Secretary General of the FCG; Francisco Garcia Cerrato, CEO of Hubtrick; Elmar Brok, former President of the EUCDW; Margo Molkenboer, Policy Advisor for Europe at CNV; and David Agius, Vice-President of the Parliament of Malta.
Each panelist, drawing on their own perspective and the realities of their respective countries, contributed to the debate on the future of employment in Europe. All agreed that the current employment situation demands the strengthening of transversal skills that enable workers and companies to adapt to a rapidly transforming economy. The Digital Age requires talent capable of utilizing emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, to drive innovation and productivity. Francisco García also addressed business transformation through technological platforms that contribute to worker mobility and the search for talent, which is in such high demand by companies. Technological platforms are acquiring a dominant role in new work models.
Claudia Tecglen, president of the foundation bearing her name and of the Association for Living with Spasticity, focused her presentation on how technology disempowers people with disabilities and how individuals with disabilities contribute to and amplify the perspectives of work teams. Her talk centered on workplace inclusion and the need to provide opportunities for everyone, as we all experience some form of disability at some point. She pointed out that making companies more inclusive and accessible doesn't cost more if it's defined beforehand; on the contrary, it offers numerous advantages for all employees.
Of particular interest was the contribution of the Community of Madrid, through its directors general, Mercedes Marín García and Belén García Díaz. They highlighted the Senior Talent Plan, currently being implemented by the Community of Madrid, as an example of best practice, with an investment of 135 million euros structured around 15 major measures and 49 specific actions. Furthermore, they highlighted the work of the administration teams for their public service commitment and their ability to carry out this and many other initiatives. The perspective of the unions was also included. Maica Imbernón, General Secretary of USO, outlined the difficulties faced by workers in different sectors, the need for professional development through certified training, and emphasized the importance of reaching younger generations who show little interest in union involvement.
At the closing ceremony, alongside the President of CEAT, speeches were given by Dennis Radtke, President of EUCDW and Member of the European Parliament for Germany, and Liesbet Sommen, Secretary General of EUCDW and Member of the European Parliament for Belgium.
Both speakers highlighted the initiatives MEPs are undertaking and the importance of reviewing the training catalog and ensuring its international recognition, as well as continuing to improve innovation and the use of Artificial Intelligence. Today, all of the above, combined with interpersonal skills and language proficiency, is essential for strengthening employability, enhancing professional mobility and competitiveness in a globalized market. Finally, Javier Morillas, a member of the Spanish Court of Auditors, spoke, highlighting some of the speakers' contributions and expressing, like the MEPs, his concern about the current war situation. He reflected on EU restrictions and regulations regarding AI, while the US innovates and China imposes no limits. He concluded by noting that Spain is experiencing a highly unusual situation due to having gone several years without an approved budget.