1. Meeting of the ETS Working Group Luxembourg 5-6 June 2012
Political perspective about education and training policies in the European Union
Kjartan Steffensen
European Commission,
DG Education and Culture Luxembourg 5 June 2012

2. ET2020 Joint Report 2012
Every two years, the education ministers from EU countries and the Commission publish a joint report on the overall situation in education and training across the EU and assessing progress towards common objectives.
Latest report 10 February 2012
Assessment of progress in education and training reform in the Member States during
Working priorities for the period to ensure an optimal contribution to the Europe 2020 objectives.

3. European Semester Country Specific Recommendations 2012

4. Europe 2020: the EU’s growth strategy
Strengthened EU economic governance
Macro-economic & fiscal surveillance
Regulation of financial services
Targets and guidance for structural reforms
Flagships for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
Digital Agenda
Youth on the Move
Innovation Union
New Industrial Policy
New Skills and new Jobs
Platform against Poverty
Resource
Efficiency
Modernised EU levers for growth and jobs
Single Market Act
Trade and external policies
Structural Funds and future EU budget

5. The European Semester timeline
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Annual Growth Survey and other reports
Proposals for country-specific recommendations
European Commission
Council of Ministers
Debate & orientations
Discussion in Council formations
Autumn:
Monitoring and peer review at European level
European Parliament
Debate & orientations
With the European Semester surveillance framework, we will be able to scrutinise the Member States' public finances and economic policies much more carefully and more pre-emptively than ever before.
The Commission and the Council will examine national economic policies and the outlines of national budgets in the first half of each year before their adoption by national parliaments in a process known as the European Semester.
It should be noted, however, that the final say on national budgets will remain with national parliaments. But national parliaments will be made more keenly aware of the European rules which Member States have agreed to respect.
And national budgets will have to be designed and presented according to a common framework, in line with best international standards, so that budget-making is more transparent both for citizens and for policy-makers.
Spring EU summit: overall guidance on EU priorities
European Council
Endorsement of country-specific recommendations
Adoption of National Reform Programmes (NRPs) & Stability and Convergence Programmes (SCPs)
Autumn:
Implementation at national level
Member States

6. Country Specific Recommendations 2012
Europe needs smart investment to equip people with the right skills.
In the European Semester 2012, the Commission proposed recommendations
to Member States in the area of education and training focussing on the
following priorities:
(1) countries' performance with regard to the education headline targets, i.e. early school leaving and tertiary or equivalent attainment, including early school leaving strategies and quality of higher education;
(2) VET reforms, including apprenticeships;
(3) addressing challenges related to specific disadvantaged groups.

7. Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
iv) the share of early school leavers should be under 10% and at
least 40% of the younger generation should have a degree or diploma

8. One in seven young leaves school early
Share of early school leavers*:
trends since 2000 and scenario for 2020
Past performance
If national targets are met 18 16 14 12 %
EU target
≈ % 10 8 6
Source: ECFIN calculation 4 2
2000
2010
2020
On the basis of current commitments, the Europe 2020 target will not be met.
* Percentage of young people aged leaving education and training before completing upper secondary education or equivalents in vocational education and training
Source: European Commission

9. There are big differences between countries
Share of early school leavers (age 18-24)
performance in 2010
national target for 2020
EU target
Source: ECFIN calculation
Source: European Commission

10. National targets will not suffice to deliver
Share of young people (age 30-34) with tertiary attainment in 2000, 2010 and 2020
Past performance
If national targets are met
EU target 40 38 36
≈ % 34 32 % 30 28
Source: ECFIN calculation 26 24 22 20
On the basis of current commitments, the Europe 2020 target will not be met.
Source: European Commission

11. Starting points are very different
Share of young people (age 30-34) with tertiary attainment
Performance in 2010
National target for 2020
EU target %
Source: ECFIN calculation
Source: European Commission

12. EU is lagging behind on tertiary education
Share of population aged with tertiary education in 2009 60
Highest EU score 50 % 40 30 20
Lowest EU score 10
Source: ECFIN calculation EU US
Japan
Today in the EU, only about one person in three aged has completed a university degree, compared to well above 50% in Japan and more than 40% in the US. Canada, Australia and South Korea all do better than the EU.
Source: OECD - European Commission 12

13. Access to lifelong learning is sub-optimal
Participation in adult lifelong learning* (% of population aged 25-64) %
Source: ECFIN calculation
About 80 million people in the EU only have low or basic skills. More access to training could help reduce this, but actual participation varies a lot across the EU, and is stagnating. Moreover, participation is typically highest for the youngest, the most educated and the employed, and is thus lowest amongst groups needing training the most.
* Share of adult population having received education or training during the last 4 weeks
Source: European Commission 13

14. Upcoming Communication on skills
Skills are a core strategic asset for Europe:
they are a key driver of growth;
they determine the EU’s capacity to benefit from its human capital potential
A stronger supply of relevant skills will increase Europe's innovation capacity and its position in the global competition for talent.
The aim of the Communication planned for autumn 2012 is to
steer the modernisation of Europe's education and training systems, in order to increase the quantity, quality and relevance of skills supply for higher economic outcomes.

15. Upcoming Communication on skills
3 key areas of action:
Focusing on outputs: Raising attainment levels, improving learning outcomes and promoting excellence
Towards open and flexible learning
Promoting smart funding and partnerships

16. New benchmarks adopted
Council Conclusions
New benchmarks adopted
Council Conclusions 29 November 2011:
Benchmark on learning mobility in higher education and IVET
Indicator on general youth mobility
Council conclusions 11 May 2011:
Benchmark on the employability of recent (last three years) graduates from education and training

17. Council Conclusions November 2011
By 2020, an EU average of at least 20 % of higher education graduates should have had a period of higher education-related study or training (including work placements) abroad, representing a minimum of 15 ECTS credits or lasting a minimum of three months.
By 2020, an EU average of at least 6 % of year olds with an initial vocational education and training qualification should have had an initial VET-related study or training period (including work placements) abroad lasting a minimum of two weeks, or less if documented by Europass.

18. Council Conclusions November 2011
The Commission should report back to the Council by the end of 2015, with a view to reviewing and, if necessary, revising the European benchmark on learning mobility.

19. Council Conclusions May 2012
By 2020, the share of employed graduates (20-34 year olds) having left education and training no more than three years before the reference year should be at least 82% (as compared to 76.5 % in 2010).

20. Other recent Council Conclusions and Recommendations
Early Childhood Education & Care (Conclusions 20/5-2011)
Promoting learning mobility (Recommendation 28/6-2011)
Early School Leaving (Recommendation 28/6-2011)
Modernisation of Higher Education (Communication 20/9-2011)
Language competences to enhance mobility (Conclusions 28/ )