Proposal for a Recommendation on key competences for lifelong learning

The Lisbon European Council in March 2000 recognised that Europe faces challenges in adapting to globalisation and the shift to knowledge-based economies. It stressed that "Every citizen must be equipped with the skills needed to live and work in this new information society" and that "a European framework should define the new basic skills to be provided through lifelong learning: IT skills, foreign languages, technological culture, entrepreneurship and social skills".

The recognition that people are Europe's most important asset for growth and employment was clear in 2000, and has been regularly restated. The mandate was reiterated and developed in the Education and Training 2010 work programme (ET2010) adopted by the Barcelona Council in March 2002, which also called for further action to "improve the mastery of basic skills" and to strengthen the European dimension in education.

Based on this political mandate, a Working Group on basic skills, established in 2001 in the context of the Education and Training 2010 work programme, has developed a framework of key competences needed in a knowledge society and prepared a number of recommendations on ensuring that all citizens can acquire them. The 2004 Joint Interim report of the Council and the Commission on the progress of the Education and Training 2010 work programme made the case for common European references and principles to support national policies, facilitate and encourage reform, and gave priority to the key competences framework.

The Recommendation proposed here therefore presents a European reference tool for key competences and suggests how access to these competences can be ensured for all citizens through lifelong learning.