The overall aim of the NEW SKILLS NETWORK project is to help ensure that the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) supports Member States in skills upgrading and matching by mobilising existing Community policies and its funds by supporting projects aimed at the development of processes, curricula and education and training provisions and tools that will help Europe close its current skills gap and ensure adequate upgrading of skills to ensure Europe's continued growth and competitiveness.  A starting point for this is the identification of key issues within the theme and best practices that can be disseminated, mainstreamed and transferred across Europe. The aim is further to potentially impact new policy developments related to skills upgrading and matching of skills needs and jobs through the creation of recommendations of how to introduce skills more strongly into the long-term strategic priorities of the EU and LLP Programme and ways to best address mismatches through adaptation of employment, education and training policies so that they can provide adequate skills for Europe's future labour market.