The consultation is part of the European Union's (EU) policy initiative under the title 'Union of Skills', which aims to enhance people's skills through better education, training, and reskilling, improve the recognition of their skills, and thus help people adapt to changes in the labour market and strengthen the continent's competitiveness.

One of the planned actions is to simplify and harmonise the recognition of qualifications and skills of individuals from non-EU countries within the member states, so that individuals have easier access to employment opportunities within the Union. Many who wish to work within the EU face complex processes to have their qualifications and skills recognised, which can delay hiring, increase costs, and make it more difficult for companies and institutions to hire qualified people from non-EU countries. The consultation is open to individuals, employers and recruitment agencies, as well as governments, institutions, and organisations involved in this area.

The aim is to gather experiences and perspectives on these challenges, their impact, and possible solutions to make the recognition of skills of individuals from non-EU countries simpler, faster, and more reliable through potential legislation. Participation only takes a short time but is important to ensure that the views of Icelandic stakeholders are heard in this policy-making process.

The deadline to answer the survey and/or submit a written opinion is February 27, 2026.

All further information is available on the European Union's consultation page