The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is celebrating 20 years since its establishment. For the Automotive Skills Alliance, this milestone is an opportunity to reflect on what effective EU funding can achieve and to acknowledge the agency that helped shape our organisation.
EACEA: Bridging Policy and Impact
Since 2006, EACEA has served as the bridge between European policy and on-the-ground impact. Working closely with seven Directorates-General of the European Commission, the agency manages funding for programmes covering education, training, youth, sport, culture, audiovisual, citizenship, and solidarity.
EACEA’s role goes beyond administration. The agency publishes calls for proposals, evaluates applications, and supports beneficiaries throughout their entire project journeys. By monitoring progress and sharing insights with policymakers, EACEA helps shape the future of EU policies based on real-world outcomes.
DRIVES: The Cornerstone of ASA
The Development and Research on Innovative Vocational Educational Skills (DRIVES) project set out to deliver human capital solutions across the entire automotive supply chain. Through the establishment of an Automotive Sector Skills Alliance, DRIVES covered all levels of the value chain, from vehicle production and automotive suppliers to sales and aftermarket services.
DRIVES did not simply deliver a set of outputs. It created the foundation upon which ASA was built, and it remains the cornerstone of our activities today.
Continuing the Work Under the Pact for Skills
The impact of DRIVES did not end when the project funding concluded. The structures, partnerships, and momentum it created continue under the Pact for Skills Large-Scale Partnership, where ASA now operates as a recognised alliance supporting skills development across Europe’s automotive-mobility sector.
This is what effective EU funding looks like: projects that create real impact, build lasting structures, and continue delivering long after the funding ends.
Congratulations to EACEA
On behalf of the Automotive Skills Alliance, we congratulate EACEA and the European Commission on this important milestone. We are proud of our continuous collaboration and grateful for the support that made our work possible.
Here’s to the next 20 years of turning policy into impact.
Learn More:
Read more about the DRIVES project: HERE
Explore the results of the DRIVES project: HERE
Read more about EACEA’s 20th anniversary and other selected projects: HERE