This briefing reports on recent developments affecting Europe's recognition regimes -- both professional and academic. At the start of 2023, the European Year of Skills, the author looks at the context facing higher education stakeholders across four areas: the European labour market, Ukraine, developments in the higher education sector and the legacy of Brexit. In the professional disciplines numerous challenges have already impacted on curriculum design and programme delivery. Triggering the revision of regulatory practice and EU legislation will take much longer, despite the urgent need for progress in sectors such as healthcare.