MDIA Participates in Annual Meeting of the National Coalitions for Digital Skills and Jobs

• July 28, 2025
• Andrew

Mr Carmel Cachia and Mr Thomas Owen Attard from the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) recently took part in the Annual Meeting of the National Coalitions (NCs) for Digital Skills and Jobs, held in July 2025. Organised by the European Commission and the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform team, the event gathered national representatives from across Europe to discuss progress, share best practices, and explore opportunities for collaboration in achieving the ambitious targets of the Digital Decade.

Held in a collaborative and forward-looking atmosphere, the annual face-to-face meeting brought together key stakeholders from the European Commission, the national coalitions, and the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform team. The event continues to play a pivotal role in community building and engagement, offering an interactive space to review national and EU-level developments in digital skills strategies and implementation.

The 2025 edition was particularly significant due to the introduction of the Union of Skills initiative, adopted by the European Commission (EC) in March. This overarching framework aims to foster stronger cooperation among Member States on the development of skills, bridging policy with action. The Commission also presented the Basic Skills Action Plan and the STEM Education Strategic Plan, highlighting future directions for inclusive and innovation-driven education and upskilling strategies.

Mr Carmel Cachia delivered a focused and well-received intervention on Malta’s experience over the past year. His presentation featured a concise overview of good practices, key achievements, and innovative strategies implemented nationally. He highlighted Malta’s continued commitment to digital inclusion and workforce transformation, noting progress in the national digital skills strategy, increased industry engagement, and alignment with emerging initiatives from EC.

Mr Cachia also shared key challenges faced by small states like Malta, including talent retention, limited scale, and cross-sector engagement, offering concrete examples of how the National Coalition are addressing these barriers through collaborative frameworks and public-private partnerships. His reflection on the past year underlined the importance of sustained effort, long-term vision, and adaptability in effective policy execution.

The event also featured updates on the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, presentations of other national activities, and interactive workshops. These sessions provided National Coalitions the opportunity to exchange practices, identify common obstacles, and co-create innovative solutions aimed at accelerating digital skills uptake across Europe. The meeting encouraged open dialogue with the European Commission, fostering stronger ties between EU institutions and national networks.

Looking forward, MDIA the Maltese National Coalition, remain fully committed to furthering the objectives of the Digital Decade, actively engaging with EC programmes, including the DEP calls under Advanced Digital Skills. As highlighted during the meeting, Malta continues to position itself as an agile and innovative contributor to Europe’s wider digital transformation journey.