Working is based on voluntary cooperation for achieving certain goals. The proposal also aims at strengthening the independent value of education affairs in the activity of the European Union. A preliminary policy debate on the issue will be held in the Tampere meeting. In case that the Member States and the Commission are in favour of the initiative, the debate will be continued in the EU Education Council. Economic internationalization is a challenge for European competitiveness and employment, and the improvement of the quality of education is one of the most effective means to rise to this challenge.
Competitiveness entails that efficient education systems produce high-quality results.
Lifelong learning becomes a prerequisite for success in working life. An education system responding to changes with flexibility is a significant factor both in regional and in national competitiveness. Until now, the Council has dealt with the quality policy of education from a rather restricted perspective, relying heavily on assessment, treating quality policy as a means of creating employment or in relation to a certain aspect of education policy. The concept of quality has a different significance for various interest groups in different countries, but generally accepted indicators of quality are e.g. learning results and the effectiveness of education. The Presidency hopes that the quality of education will remain permanently on the agenda of the Education Council for the next millennium, and that it will be observed from different standpoints.