Our mission

In the field of education and training the mission of the European Commission is to reinforce and promote lifelong learning.
The Directorate-General's work on education and training follows a twin-track approach of policy cooperation with EU Member States on the one hand and the implementation of the Lifelong Learning Programme on the other hand.  

Policy cooperation means in practice that the European Commission supports, develops and implements lifelong learning policies with the aim of enabling countries to work together and to learn from each other, with an important emphasis on mobility. It does so through the "open method of coordination", while respecting the full competencies of Member States in education and training.

Education and training policy has gained particular momentum with the adoption of the "Europe 2020" strategy, the EU's overarching programme focusing on growth and jobs. Recognising that lifelong learning is key to both jobs and growth and the participation of everyone in society, EU Member States and the European Commission have strengthened their political cooperation through the strategic framework "Education and Training 2020".

Since 2007, the European Commission has integrated its various educational and training initiatives under a single umbrella, the Lifelong Learning Programme. The objective of the programme is to enable individuals at all stages of their lives to pursue stimulating learning opportunities across Europe. The European Commission is responsible for the overall implementation of the programme while the management of certain parts lies within the remit of the Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) and of national agencies in the EU Member States.