Investing in skills for the competitiveness of small and medium companies

As Ireland leads the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, business leaders and policymakers met in Dublin to focus on a pressing question: how can Europe equip its small and medium-sized companies (SME) with the talent and skills they need to grow, innovate and compete?

Hosted by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the conference Investing in Skills for SME Competitiveness: An EU-Ireland Dialogue for the 2026 Presidency put the spotlight on the need to advance policies that support skills development and cut unnecessary complexity for businesses.

Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, highlighted the growing importance of digital skills, data, automation and artificial intelligence, warning that businesses lacking the skills to adopt new technologies risk falling behind more productive and innovative competitors.

The event formed part of the European Skills & VET Week, underlining the wider European focus on workforce readiness, lifelong learning and equipping businesses with the capabilities they need for the future.