For nearly forty years, the bilan de compétences – or skills assessment – has been one of the most effective tools to help European citizens understand their professional paths, rediscover their strengths, and reorient themselves in a changing world of work.
Created in France in 1986 and enshrined in the Labour Code, it has since inspired many other European countries. Today, more than 50 organisations across 7 European countries provide this service to around 100,000 people every year, in all sectors of activity.
The bilan de compétences is much more than a national programme. It represents a European model of guidance and career support, based on shared principles set out in the Council Resolution on Lifelong Guidance (2008/C 319/02) and the Council Recommendation on the Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning (2012/C 398/01). It embodies the European commitment to help individuals become active agents in their career development, fostering reflection, self-awareness, and the ability to act.
In the current context of economic, ecological, and technological transitions, weakening or removing such a tool would be a strategic and social mistake. The skills assessment is not a luxury; it is a lever for adaptation, resilience, and inclusion. It contributes to career transitions, employability, and the prevention of long-term unemployment, while supporting health and well-being at work. It links personal development with collective needs and bridges the gap between learning and meaningful work.
The FECBOP (European Federation of Centres for Skills Assessment and Career Guidance), created from the original French model, now brings together member organisations in France, Belgium, Italy, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and other European countries. Together, we have developed the European Quality Label “Qualité Europe Bilan de Compétences”, which ensures shared ethical, methodological, and organisational standards. This label, based on internal and external audits and continuous improvement, reflects a collective European commitment to responsible, person-centred, and high-quality guidance.
As members of FECBOP, we express our shared concern: any withdrawal of funding or public recognition for the skills assessment in France would not only weaken thousands of dedicated professionals but also undermine the broader European movement for lifelong guidance. The French model, often cited as a good practice internationally, has pioneered an integrated approach to career support — one that combines personal reflection, professional realities, and collective purpose. To dismantle it would mean weakening a social and cultural achievement that Europe has built through decades of cooperation, research, and exchange.
We call on policymakers, social partners, and European institutions to reaffirm their support for the Bilan de Compétences approach and to strengthen its role within employment, education, and lifelong learning policies.
Fédération Européenne des Centres de Bilan et d’Orientation Professionnelle (FECBOP)
fecbop.eu