14 Oct Join us for a policy debate on EU funding and digital inclusion
14 Oct, 2025
Date and location:
20 November 2025, 12:00–15:00 (including light lunch)
Government of Catalonia Representation to the EU, Rue de la Loi 227, 1040 Brussels
About the event:
As Europe prepares for its next long-term budget, digital inclusion is becoming essential for both competitiveness and cohesion. Yet, 44% of Europeans remain digitally excluded, revealing the urgent need for EU funding to translate ambition into real learning opportunities.
This high-level policy debate will bring together policymakers, learning providers – including digital competence centres – and various digital learning stakeholders to discuss how EU funding can better support digital skills, inclusion, and lifelong learning.
The event will feature a short visioning exercise on the future of digital inclusion, a dynamic brainstorm with expert voices to inspire ideas and identify future EU funding priorities.
Together, we’ll explore how EU programmes can better serve learners, industry, and the broader digital ecosystem.
Discussion topics:
- How EU programmes (Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, Competitiveness Fund, and national plans) can work together to unlock Europe’s digital potential.
- The role of the new Erasmus+ proposal in reflecting competence centre priorities.
- Future priorities for funding: micro-credentials, competence frameworks, certification profiles, and the Pact for Skills.
Invited speakers:
- Representatives from the European Commission and regional authorities.
- Civil society organisations from the All Digital network.
- Experts in digital inclusion and lifelong learning.
Programme:
12:00 – Registration and networking with light lunch
12:30 – Digital inclusion reflection: The future vision
Moderator: David Mekkaoui, Chief Executive Officer, All Digital.
- Andreea Dima, Director, MAKS.
- Elisa Gambardella, Education & Lifelong Learning Coordinator, SOLIDAR.
- Alba Soler Turull, Senior Innovation Project Manager, i2cat.
13:00 – Interactive Session: Digital inclusion visioning
13:25 – Policy reflection: The funding outlook
Moderator: Brikena Xhomaqi, Director, Lifelong Learning Platform.
- Georgi Dimitrov, Head of Unit, European Commission / DG EAC.
- Leo Kilroy, Education and Skills Attaché to Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the EU.
- Jan Büscher, Co-Director General, La Mednum.
13:35 – Interactive Session: From vision to funding priorities
13:55 – Final reflections and closing remarks
14:15 – Networking and light lunch
Contact:
For more information, reach us at: events@all-digital.org
