Building a citizen’s voice on education and training issues Policy debate ‘Partnerships for LLL: A New Idea?’ Concretizing a partnership approach through a structured dialogue in education and training European Parliament, 7 May 2013 Gina Ebner, EUCIS-LLL President European Civil Society Platform on Lifelong Learning

European civil society platform on lifelong learning Policy debate “Partnerships for LLL: a new idea?” – European Parliament – Partnerships …. ….are key in the understanding of EUCIS LLL. Its very existence is based on partnerships, transsectoral cooperation and dialogue. We have seen a shift in cooperation, both with the European institutions and with other civil society organisations

European civil society platform on lifelong learning Policy debate “Partnerships for LLL: a new idea?” – European Parliament – Structured dialogue At the moment we have ‘unstructured dialogue’ (which sometimes works very well) Our objectives: Structured dialogue in a legal basis Create mechanisms for cooperation on EU level Create mechanisms for cooperation on national levels Operational support for European associations

European civil society platform on lifelong learning Policy debate “Partnerships for LLL: a new idea?” – European Parliament – From Europe to the national level The European Stakeholder Forum as an example for the national level (where this doesn’t already exist) Based on mapping, research and a qualitative and quantitative investigation of the members’ members. - Civil society as either the driving force and / or the key partner for partnerships.

European civil society platform on lifelong learning Policy debate “Partnerships for LLL: a new idea?” – European Parliament – Key facts of the survey Key fact no.1: stakeholders share the same holistic definition of lifelong learning (EUCIS-- ‐ LLL’s one), which is crucial to build a community around a shared meaning and legitimate EUCIS-- ‐ LLL’s role to impulse Forums Key fact no.2: stakeholders share the same lifelong learning values (as a priority in times of crisis): they already do informal monitoring of national policies and have political opinions on their own country’s situation: Austerity measures and focus on formal (higher) education are not the solution; a global vision of lifelong learning benefits is essential. Key fact no. 3: the first purpose of the Forums is to foster a trans-- ‐ sectorial cooperation with a multi-- ‐ stakeholder approach: the respondents are interested before all in sharing practices to build solid projects, and this exchange should not be limited to one sector.

European civil society platform on lifelong learning Policy debate “Partnerships for LLL: a new idea?” – European Parliament – Key facts cont. Key fact no.4: the second purpose of National Forums should be pedagogical on European educational policies in general and ET2020 in particular: stakeholders know little about EU policies and when they do, it is thanks to their European network. (27% of respondents did not know at all ET2020 and 68,8% of those who know it say it is thanks to their European network) Key fact no.5: the third purpose of National Forums should be increasing cooperation between civil society and public authorities: very diverse consultation cultures across Europe do not explain weak consultation mechanisms. (o 55,5% of respondents feel “no awareness of public authorities of the benefits of [their] participation”