Proposal for a Recommendation on a European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships

Background and further information:

The proposal for a European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships follows up to the 2016 New Skills Agenda for Europe and the 2016 Communication on Investing in Europe's Youth. Both documents highlight the importance of skills formation and the need to support young people in acquiring those skills to make them better prepared for a successful professional career. This Recommendation provides orientation on how to put in place apprenticeship schemes that work and deliver results for both apprentices and employers.

This document also complements the initiatives facilitating young people's transition to employment, notably the Council Recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships.

The overall objective is to increase the employability and personal development of apprentices and to contribute to the development of a highly skilled and qualified workforce, responsive to labour market needs.

The specific objective is to provide a coherent framework for apprenticeships based on a common understanding of what defines quality and effectiveness, taking into account the diversity of vocational education and training (VET) systems in Member States.

The Recommendation was adopted by the Council of the European Union at a meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council.

The European Commission published on 5 October 2017 a proposal for a Recommendation encouraging Member States to apply a comprehensive and coherent set of criteria for quality and effective apprenticeships.

The Council of the European Union adopted the proposed Recommendation on 15 March 2018.

EUR-Lex: COM(2017)563: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2017:563:FIN

European Commission: DG Communication: IP/17/3585, 05.10.17: Commission adopts initiative to boost apprenticeships in Europe http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-3585_en.htm

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/17/3586, 05.10.17: European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships: Questions and Answers http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-3586_en.htm

Politico, 10.10.17: The education of Emmanuel Macron http://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-reform-apprenticeships-education/

EUR-Lex: SWD(2017)322: Commission Staff Working Document accompanying the proposal http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2017:322:FIN

European Commission: Statement by Commissioner Thyssen following the agreement on the European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-18-1923_en.htm

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 15.03.18: Quality and effective apprenticeships: Council adopts European framework http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/03/15/quality-and-effective-apprenticeships-council-adopts-european-framework/

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