Photo: Anders Wiuff, EuroSkills Herning 2025
EuroSkills Herning 2025 wrapped up its final day of competitions on Friday. After two intense days with around 72,000 visitors, the halls were once again buzzing with energy, applause, and curious guests eager to witness Europe’s top young skilled professionals in action.
For the 597 young skilled professionals, three days of hard work came to a climax as the competitions gradually concluded throughout the day. The atmosphere at MCH Messecenter Herning was electric and emotional – with cheering and applause echoing across the halls. The relief of having completed the competitions was evident, and many participants shed tears of pride as their projects were finalized in front of thousands of spectators.
At the same time, EuroSkills Herning 2025 hosted an informal EU ministerial meeting. On the occasion of Denmark’s EU Presidency, Minister for Children and Education Mattias Tesfaye had invited his European colleagues to Herning on 11–12 September to discuss the future of Europe’s young skilled professionals.
Following the meeting, the ministers, together with EU Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu, were given a tour of the EuroSkills halls. They experienced first-hand how the Skills movement builds pride among young skilled professionals and helps reshape perceptions of vocational education across Europe. The tour also provided insight into how the competitions highlight sustainable solutions and the competences needed for the green transition.
During the meeting, the Herning Declaration was signed. With this declaration, the EU issues a strong call to intensify cooperation across member states, make vocational education more attractive, and ensure it meets the demands of the labour market.
The initiative will pave the way for a European strategy for vocational education, expected to be published next year. The declaration underlines the crucial role of vocational education in Europe’s competitiveness and its importance in addressing the growing shortage of skills required to drive both the green and digital transitions.
After three days of demanding competitions, impressive achievements, and political focus, everyone will gather again on Saturday for the grand Closing Ceremony in Jyske Bank Boxen. Here, the excitement will peak as the winners of gold, silver, and bronze in the 38 different skills are announced – and Europe’s best young skilled professionals are celebrated in front of a festive audience.