1. In endeavouring to achieve the above strategic objectives and thereby ensure an effective contribution to national reforms, the following principles should be observed in the period up to 2020:
(a) European cooperation in education and training should be implemented in a lifelong learning perspective making effective use of the open method of coordination (OMC) and developing synergies between the different education and training sectors. While fully respecting Member States’ responsibility for their educational systems and the voluntary nature of European cooperation in education and training, the OMC should draw on:
— the four strategic objectives for European cooperation outlined above,
— common reference tools and approaches,
— peer learning and the exchange of good practice, including the dissemination of outcomes,
— periodic monitoring and reporting,
— evidence and data from all relevant European agencies, European networks, and international organisations,
— making full use of the opportunities available under Community programmes, particularly in the field of lifelong learning.
(b) European cooperation in education and training should be pertinent and concrete. It should produce clear and visible outcomes which should be presented, reviewed and disseminated on a regular basis and in a structured manner, thereby establishing a basis for continuous evaluation and development.
(c) The Copenhagen process in the field of vocational education and training is an important aspect of European cooperation under the open method of coordination. The aims and priorities pursued under this process should contribute to achieving the objectives set out in this framework.
(d) In order to support Member States’ efforts to modernise higher education and develop a European Higher Education Area, close synergy with the Bologna process should also be aimed for, in particular with regard to quality assurance, recognition, mobility and transparency instruments.
(e) Where relevant, cross-sectoral cooperation should be sought between EU initiatives in education and training and those in related policy areas — particularly employment, enterprise, social policy, youth policy and culture. With specific regard to the knowledge triangle, special attention should be paid to the synergies between education, research and innovation, as well as to complementarity with the aims of the European Research Area.
(f) Well-functioning cooperation using new, transparent ways of networking is needed not only between the relevant EU institutions, but also with all relevant stakeholders, who have a considerable contribution to make in terms of policy development, implementation and evaluation.
(g) Policy dialogue with third countries and cooperation with international organisations should be reinforced, thereby providing a source of fresh ideas and comparison.
(h) Where appropriate, financial resources from the European Structural Funds may be used to enhance education and training systems in accordance with the overall strategic objectives and Member States’ priorities.
2. The success of the open method of coordination in education and training depends on the political commitment of Member States and on effective working methods at European level. From this perspective, and with a view to greater flexibility, the working methods used in the context of European cooperation should be based on the following:
(a) Work cycles: the period up to 2020 will be divided up into a series of cycles, with the first cycle covering the 3 years from 2009 to 2011.
(b) Priority areas: for each cycle, a number of priority areas for European cooperation based on the strategic objectives will be adopted by the Council on the basis of a Commission proposal. The European priority areas will be designed to allow either for broad cooperation between all the Member States or for closer cooperation between a more limited number of Member States, in accordance with national priorities. The priority areas for the first cycle under this new framework are set out in Annex II hereto.
(c) Mutual learning: European cooperation in the aforementioned priority areas can be carried out by such means as peer learning activities, conferences and seminars, high level fora or expert groups, panels, studies and analyses and web-based cooperation and, where appropriate, with the involvement of relevant stakeholders. All of these initiatives should be developed on the basis of clear mandates, time schedules and planned outputs to be proposed by the Commission in cooperation with the Member States (see also paragraph (f) below).
(d) Dissemination of results: to enhance visibility and impact at national and European level, the outcomes of cooperation will be widely disseminated among all relevant stakeholders and, where appropriate, discussed at the level of Directors-General or Ministers.
(e) Progress reporting: at the end of each cycle — and in the case of the first under the new framework, no earlier than the beginning of 2012 — a joint Council-Commission report should be drawn up. This will evaluate the overall progress in achieving the objectives under this framework during the most recent cycle and/or in a particular thematic area which would be defined by the Commission in cooperation with the Member States (see also paragraph (f) below). Joint reports should be based on national reports drawn up by the Member States, as well as on existing information and statistical data. The joint reports may be developed to include factual analyses of the different situations in individual Member States, with their full agreement. The joint reports should also serve as the basis for establishing a fresh set of priority areas for the following cycle.
(f) Monitoring of the process: to promote the delivery of results through the open method of coordination as well as ownership of the method at both national and European level, the Member States and the Commission will work closely together in steering, taking forward and evaluating the process and its outcomes.
3. The strategic framework — including benchmarks and working methods — may be reviewed and any necessary adjustments made by the Council in the light of any major new developments in Europe, particularly decisions taken on the EU strategy for growth and jobs beyond 2010,
