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This week, the Commission presented plans for Vocational Education and Training, which are related to the EU 2020 Strategy. The plans also form a contribution of the Commission to a new ten-year programme for reforms within the scope of the Copenhagen Process. The Commission has reached the conclusion that the vocational training sector had to be modernised to make vocational education and training a more attractive and qualitative option.

EU Ministers will adopt plans in the second half of 2010

The Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, who is in charge of education, wants to use the plans to create an important junction between education and employment. To improve competencies, said the Commissioner, was, in particular in the current economic situation, more necessary than ever. There are several ways to reach these targets, for example by securing flexible and open access to vocational education and training and to qualifications in all phases of life, by promoting mobility to make it easier to gather experiences abroad or in another economic sector or by securing the highest quality of vocational education and training.

Implementation of many Community instruments in the coming years

The Communication of the Commission states that the plans will be implemented in the next decade, beginning with the speedy introduction of common EU reference instruments such as EQR, ECVET, Europass and EQAVET. Although the Member States will play a leading role, the social partners too will be allocated significant responsibilities. In particular, the international cooperation with OECD resp. UNESCO will be important and should be developed according to the Communication.

Further information:

Communication of the Commission: A new impetus for European cooperation in Vocational Education and Training to support the Europe 2020 strategy