06/10/2025 (Agence Europe) – According to data published on Monday 6 October by Eurostat, (https://aeur.eu/f/ise ), 35% of the European Union’s regions have already achieved the target set by the Member States in 2021 (https://aeur.eu/f/isf ) of at least 45% of 25-34 year-olds obtaining a higher education qualification by 2030. In 2024, the European average was 44.2%. Of the 242 regions analysed, 84 met or exceeded the target. These include the capital regions of several Member States, as well as economic and university centres such as certain regions in Spain, Utrecht and Groningen in the Netherlands, Walloon Brabant in Belgium, Midi-Pyrénées in France, as well as Cyprus and Luxembourg. However, 24 regions have fewer than 26.5% of graduates in this age bracket, particularly in Romania, Hungary and Italy, but also in Corsica and French Guiana. These areas, which are often rural or isolated, are characterised by agriculture and focus on vocational training. (NP)