THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

RECALLING

the endorsement by the March 2002 Barcelona European Council of the ‘Education and Training 2010’ work programme which — in the context of the Lisbon Strategy — established for the first time a solid framework for European cooperation in the field of education and training, based on common objectives and aimed primarily at supporting the improvement of national education and training systems through the development of complementary EU-level tools, mutual learning and the exchange of good practice via the open method of coordination,

and ACKNOWLEDGING

that cooperation under the aforementioned work programme, including the Copenhagen process and initiatives in the context of the Bologna process, have led to significant progress being made — notably in support of national reforms of lifelong learning, the modernisation of higher education and the development of common European instruments promoting quality, transparency and mobility — but that substantial challenges still remain, if Europe is to achieve its ambition to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world,

EMPHASISES that:

1. Education and training have a crucial role to play in meeting the many socio-economic, demographic, environmental and technological challenges facing Europe and its citizens today and in the years ahead.

2. Efficient investment in human capital through education and training systems is an essential component of Europe's strategy to deliver the high levels of sustainable, knowledge-based growth and jobs that lie at the heart of the Lisbon strategy, at the same time as promoting personal fulfilment, social cohesion and active citizenship,

RECOGNISES that:

1. While valuing European diversity and the unique opportunities which this affords, and while fully respecting the Member States’ responsibility for their education systems, an updated strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training — building on the progress made under the ‘Education and Training 2010’ work programme — could further enhance the efficiency of such cooperation and provide continuing benefits and support for Member States’ education and training systems up to the year 2020.

2. Education and training have made a substantial contribution towards achieving the long-term goals of the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs. In anticipation of future developments with this process, efforts should therefore be maintained to ensure that education and training remain firmly anchored in the broader strategy. It is also essential that the framework for European cooperation should remain flexible enough to respond to both current and future challenges, including those arising under any new strategy after 2010,

NOTES WITH INTEREST

the communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on ‘An updated strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training.