Brussels, 22 October 2026 – After two and a half years of cooperation, the Stitch Together project has come to an end. Its final conference brought together employers, trade unions, policymakers and social dialogue experts from across Europe.
The event offered an opportunity to review the project’s achievements and discuss the future of Europe’s textile and clothing industry.
EURATEX and industriAll Europe worked together throughout the project to strengthen social dialogue and address common challenges facing the sector.
Tackling the challenges facing Europe’s textile industry
Europe’s textile and clothing industry faces major changes. The green and digital transitions are creating new demands for companies and workers. At the same time, international competition and changing supply chains continue to put pressure on the sector.
During the conference, participants discussed how to address these challenges through stronger cooperation.
The discussions focused on several key priorities:
- Developing skills for the green and digital transitions
- Promoting quality jobs and better working conditions
- Strengthening social dialogue between employers and workers
- Improving due diligence practices
- Supporting the competitiveness of Europe’s textile and clothing industry
These exchanges highlighted the importance of working together to prepare the industry for the future.
Seven national action plans for future cooperation
One of the main achievements of the Stitch Together project is the development of seven national action plans.
Social partners developed these plans to address the specific challenges of their countries. They provide practical guidance on skills, workforce development, working conditions and industrial transformation.
Each plan reflects national priorities while also addressing common European challenges.
Most importantly, these action plans will help continue the work beyond the project’s conclusion. They offer a clear starting point for further cooperation between employers and trade unions.
Building on the results of Stitch Together
Through Stitch Together, EURATEX and industriAll Europe strengthened cooperation between employers and workers across Europe.
The project encouraged social partners to exchange experiences, identify shared priorities and develop practical solutions.
Although the project has ended, its results will continue to support the textile and clothing industry.
The final conference reinforced a clear message: Europe’s textile industry needs strong cooperation between companies, workers and policymakers to remain competitive and sustainable.
EURATEX thanks industriAll Europe, all project partners, speakers and participants for their contributions throughout the project.