The EU-ALMPO project, a Horizon Europe initiative bringing together social sciences and artificial intelligence, is entering a new phase in April 2026. As part of it, it will launch its Communities of Practice (CoPs) focused on AI-supported skills matching policies.
These won’t be typical meetings. Instead, they are designed as hands-on, collaborative spaces where stakeholders can share real experiences and help share AI tools that will be tested in the second half of 2026.
From Evidence to Action
In the second half of 2025, the project built a strong evidence using real-world data. It mapped skills ecosystems across these Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and Poland, identifying good practices and developing in-depth case studies.
This work followed a realist evaluation approach – Context-Mechanism-Outcome (CMO), which helps explain not just what works, but why it works, in which contexts, and for whom. This deeper understanding is essential for developing AI tools that are reliable, context-aware, and as free from bias as possible.
How the Communities of Practice Will Work
The CoPs are designed to be practical and interactive. Participants will work with real examples and reflect on what makes certain approaches succeed-or fail. Each session will cover four connected topics:
- CMO configurations
- Enablers and barriers to success
- Data and documentation needs
- Potential AI functions.
The sessions will take place at two levels.
National levels. A national session, bringing together Public Employment Services, ministries, training providers, social partners, and experts.
Two international sessions will allow cross-country comparison and discussion.
A survey will complement the sessions by collecting stakeholder input on AI functions and user needs in a systematic way.
Building AI Tools That Work for People
The results from the CoPs and the survey will directly inform the design of AI-based tools to support Active Labour Market Policies. These tools will be tested in late 2026, built not only on technical innovation but also on real evidence and the experience of practitioners and policymakers. The goal is simple: EU-ALMPO truly wants to make sure that these digital tools actually work for the people who will use them – supporting better labour market policies across Europe.