Resolution of the European Council

2011 / C372 / 01

The 'Europe 2020' strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth characterizes lifelong learning and skills development particularly important to address:

      - The current economic crisis

      - Aging population

particularly critical for the wider economic and social strategy of the European Union

The European Council considers that the 'Europe 2020' adult learning contribution in achieving the objectives of the strategy can be crucial as it enables:

- Employed  people to improve their ability to adapt to changes

- The unemployed to upgrade or redirect their skills and it can contribute decisively to :

- Social inclusion

- Active citizenship

- Personal development

The European Agenda for Adult Learning in response to the benchmarks set by the framework for European cooperation in Education and Training, such as increasing the adult participation rate in lifelong learning 15%, and the upgrading of skills (basic skills) of people with low qualifications, putting renewed five priority areas.

The European Council calls on Member States for the period 2012-2014 to make the propagation by applying two-year funded programs.

Specifically, the responsibilities of Member States for the implementation of the renewed agenda are:

- To focus on the priority areas of the renewed agenda, depending on national conditions and national legislation

- Improve the coherence between policies on adult learning and social and financial policies

- Develop effective partnerships between ministries, social partners, companies, NGOs etc.

- To tap the tools of lifelong learning, which has been agreed at EU level

- Make use of training opportunities through the LLL program (Gtundtvig, Lonardo da Vinci, European Structural Funds etc.)

The European Agenda for Adult Learning

The European Agenda for Adult Education, adopted in November 2011, is invited to contribute substantially to the above agreed target and promote a specific joint program that will make adult learning a stronger link in the chain of Learning.

What is the European Agenda?

The Agenda is an awareness  and information program of all those involved in social and educational "affairs" at local, regional, national and international level. Activation and cooperation allow for a "step forward" in the population with low skills through training programs.

The implementation of the "European Agenda for Adult Education and Training 'in Greece undertaken by the General Secretariat for Lifelong Learning and Youth.