Working together towards attractive, inclusive, innovative, agile and flexible VET : Cedefop monitors and analyses European countries' VET and lifelong learning policy and practice in support of common goals

Since the 1950s, European countries have worked towards a single common market, with actions including removing barriers to citizens' free movement. Cooperation on vocational education and training (VET), as first stipulated in the 1957 Treaty of Rome and reaffirmed in 1992 by the Maastricht Treaty, has always been part of the endeavour. It gathered momentum in 2002 with the Copenhagen Process which became a catalyst for modernising VET systems across Europe. In this context, Cedefop was entrusted in 2004 with monitoring, analysing and reporting on European countries' implementation of common priorities. The most recent policy cycle started in 2020 with the first ever Council Recommendation on VET for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience, and the Osnabrück Declaration. While the former outlined six areas of reform, the latter set four broad priorities. In combination with other strategic documents and policies, such as the European Social Pillar Action Plan, the EU Skills Agenda and the Pact for Skills, they have given a fresh impetus to the Copenhagen Process and will frame the current policy cycle. Now, as countries are embarking on ambitious national plans to implement their common VET priorities up to 2030, they can proudly look back on 20 years of successful cooperation.