On 10 February 2026, the Horizon Europe project EU-ALMPO – EU Active Labour Market Policies Observatory held its official Launch Event, titled “Harnessing AI in Supporting Labour Market Policy Making.”
The event brought together representatives from the European Commission, OECD, CEDEFOP, Eurofound, academic institutions, research centres, and policy experts to examine how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can strengthen evidence-based Active Labour Market Policies (ALMPs).
The discussion addressed a structural challenge: while labour markets are rapidly evolving due to digitalisation, demographic change, and economic transitions, policymaking tools often remain fragmented and reactive. EU-ALMPO seeks to respond to this gap by developing AI-supported tools that enhance the full ALMP cycle — from policy design and targeting to monitoring and evaluation.
During the event, the project coordinator, Prof. Giannis Tzimas (University of Peloponnese), presented EU-ALMPO’s ambition to establish an AI-powered observatory model supported by:
- A centralised EU repository of ALMP knowledge
- Advanced analytical infrastructure based on Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
- AI-powered monitoring systems
- An Interactive ALMP Design Wizard for policymakers
Following the project presentation, Mihai Palimariciuc (European Commission) set the policy context, highlighting the strategic importance of aligning AI innovation with Europe’s employment agenda, digital transformation priorities, and labour market resilience objectives.
The keynote session then featured distinguished speakers who provided deeper insights into the intersection between AI and labour market policy. Dr. Stefano Scarpetta (OECD) addressed the evolving impact of AI on task composition and skills demand, emphasising the importance of inclusive and human-centred deployment. Andrea Glorioso (DG Employment, European Commission) discussed the balance between algorithmic innovation and the protection of quality jobs and worker wellbeing. Dr. Konstantinos Pouliakas (CEDEFOP) presented evidence on the spread of AI-related skills across sectors and the risks posed by emerging skills gaps. Dr. Eleana Kafeza (Technology Innovation Institute) explored open-source AI approaches and their potential applications within public employment services.
Together, the contributions underscored that technological capability alone is not sufficient. Governance frameworks, ethical safeguards, and institutional readiness are essential to ensure that AI strengthens — rather than disrupts — labour market governance.
The roundtable discussion, moderated by Prof. Łukasz Sienkiewicz (Gdańsk University of Technology), brought together representatives from OECD, Eurofound, academic institutions, and policy practice to explore how AI tools can become usable and actionable in real policymaking environments.
The Launch Event represents a key milestone, positioning EU-ALMPO within the wider European debate on digital transformation, competitiveness, and inclusive labour market governance.
The project now moves into its next phase, focusing on the development and piloting of AI-supported decision-making tools for policymakers across Europe.
