Transversal skills and competences (TSCs) are learned and proven abilities which are commonly seen as necessary or valuable for effective action in virtually any kind of work, learning or life activity. They are “transversal” because they are not exclusively related to any particular context (job, occupation, academic discipline, civic or community engagement, occupational sector, group of occupational sectors, etc.).
They are often referred to as core skills, basic skills or soft skills, the cornerstone for the personal development of a person. Transversal knowledge, skills and competences are the building blocks for the development of the "hard" skills and competences required to succeed on the labour market.

European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO, esco.ec.europa.eu) makes no distinction between skills and competences, but skill & competence concepts are distict from knowledge concept. Knowledge means 'the outcome of the assimilation of information through learning. Knowledge is the body of facts, principles, theories and practices that is related to a field of work or study", while qualifications are the formal outcome of an assessment and validation process which is obtained when a competent body determines that an individual has achieved learning outcomes to given standards.
ESCO classification and concepts description:  Skill & Competences, Knowledge, Qualifications .
Information on qualifications at European level is now displayed in Europass.
​Classification of Transversal Skills and Competences: https://esco.ec.europa.eu/en/about-esco/escopedia/escopedia/transversal-knowledge-skills-and-competences 

Source: ESCO, Transversal Skills and Competences Classification, https://esco.ec.europa.eu/en/classification