WRITTEN QUESTION E-1276/00

by Jan Andersson (PSE) to the Commission

(19 April 2000)

Subject: The Commission's plans for promoting lifelong learning agreements

On a number of occasions, the European Parliament has called on the Commission to promote lifelong learning agreements between partners on the European labour market. The conclusions of the Lisbon European Council called for higher priority to be given to lifelong learning as a basic component of the European social model, including by encouraging agreements between the social partners on innovation and lifelong learning. (conclusion 29). The Commission's efforts to promote agreements between the partners could take the form of providing an indication of the legislative initiatives which the Commission intends to adopt in order to promote lifelong learning.

What initiatives has the Commission adopted, and does it intend to adopt, with a view to promoting agreements between European labour-market partners concerning lifelong learning?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(23 June 2000)

Council Decision 2000/228/EC of 13 March 2000 on guidelines for Member States' employment policies for the year 2000(1) provides the policy framework for promoting lifelong learning in the context of the employment strategy objectives, in particular guidelines 5 and 6 on improving employability and guideline 15 on modernising work organisation. Implementation of the guidelines is monitored in the context of the Luxembourg process and assessment is carried out in the joint employment report by the Commission and the Council.

Within this framework, the social partners are urged to conclude agreements to promote lifelong learning, while Member States have responsibility for defining the legal and institutional conditions for facilitating such activities in a partnership approach. In the employment guidelines 2001 the lifelong learning dimension will be strengthened and agreements between the social partners will be further encouraged.

In that respect, it is worth noting that at European level the intersectoral social partners have stepped up their activities in the field of lifelong learning and the modernisation of work. The European trade union confederation (ETUC), the Conseil européen des entreprises publiques (CEEP) and the Union of industrial and employer's confederations of Europe/European union of crafts and small and medium-sized enterprises (UNICE/UAPME) are setting up a working group to identify ways to promote access to lifelong learning and skills development, and are preparing a joint report on good practice in the areas of adaptability and work organisation. The framework agreements on part time work (1997) and fixed term contracts (1999) also include clauses on the promotion of access to training.

At sectoral level, many sectors joined forces to send a joint contribution to the Lisbon European Council highlighting the need for training and skills development, and initiatives to promote lifelong learning are being developed in several sectors, such as workshops on training and qualification needs; multi-skilling; Europe-wide certification of skills, access to Information and communication technologies training.

Moreover, the Commission is preparing a communication on Lifelong learning for active citizenship in a Europe of knowledge in which concrete actions on key themes on lifelong learning will be identified, including the promotion of a partnership approach to investing in human resources and a flexible organisation of work.

The Commission is also preparing a new social policy agenda and initiatives to promote lifelong learning and the modernisation of work will be part of the agenda.

(1) OJ L 72, 21.3.2000.