Elisabeth Bittner DG EAC European Commission The Civil Society Organisations in Bulgaria and Romania: On the Way Towards a Europe for All Ages “ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP AND KEY COMPETENCES FOR LIFELONGLEARNING “

29. Generaldirektion Bildung und Kultur Location:Brussels Akronym: EAC Commissioner: Jan Figel (Slowak Rep.) Director General: Odile Quintin (F) approx.500 staff of which 220 are dealing with education Directorate A: Education Policy(90) DirectorateB: Programmes (130)  Number of staff in education equals numer of staff in Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in the Saarland, Germany

The challenges facing the future of Europe  Globalisation  The knowledge-based society and economy  New technologies / changing organisation of work  Ageing population  Opportunities but risk of social exclusion!  80 million low-skilled citizens, 19 million unemployed

Education and training are part of the solution!  Knowledge and skills are determining factors in employability, excellence, innovation and growth  And education and training are part of the social dimension of Europe

The Lisbon Strategy Objectives for EU 2010:   To become the world’s most competitive knowledge-based economy   Social cohesion

that everyone should develop during initial education and training, and that adults should learn, maintain and update through lifelong learning: Communication in the mother tongue Communication in the mother tongue Communication in a foreign language Communication in a foreign language Mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology Mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology Digital competence Digital competence Learning-to-learn Learning-to-learn Social, Interpersonal and civic competence Social, Interpersonal and civic competence Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship Cultural expression Cultural expression The 8 Key Competences

New Generation of Community programmes Citizens for Europe ( ) Commission Plan D Integrated Lifelong Learning Programme

The Proposals Integrated LLL programme - structure Integrated Programme Comenius School education Erasmus Higher education & advanced training Leonardo da Vinci Initial and continuing VET Grundtvig Adult education Transversal programme 4 key activities – Policy development; Language learning; ICT; Dissemination Jean Monnet programme 3 key activities – Jean Monnet Action; European Institutions; European Associations

5 benchmarks Benchmark2000Today(2004)Trend2010Bench-mark2010 Are we on the right way? 1. Early school leavers, (%)* (D: 12.1) MST graduates (2000) (2003) (+35%) (+15%) 3. Youth education Attainment (upp.sec) % (D: 72.8) Low achieving 15 year olds, reading, % (D: 22.3) 20-20%(15.5) 5. Participation in LLL, % of adults* (D:7. 4)

Reform and modernise to encourage … Best practices inside the EU  research, education, training and innovation as driving force to create more and better jobs  Higher employment rates, life long learning, later retirement and a better work/life balance (flexible leave for child care, care for the elderly and education)  More training opportunities and incentives for older workers  Guidance

Cooperation with partners  provides added value  using local knowledge  building networks  fostering participation on local community level  Crucial to successful action

Thank you for your attention !