"lifelong Learning: a Comprehensive Approach to Education and Training Policies" European Training Foundation Parallel Session Presentation A. Background

This paper aims to give an idea of the policy context in the European Union for lifelong learning, a clear definition of the principle of lifelong learning and an outline of the lifelong learning framework in the European Commission's Communication: making a European area of lifelong learning a reality. The paper provides a case study of one candidate country – Hungary to illustrate how the principle of lifelong learning is steering education and training developments. The paper is divided into two parts: Part 1 c oncentrates on the European Union's approach to lifelong learning and Part 2 consists of the case study. The European Union consists of 15 Member States. It is in the process of enlargement to include 13 candidate countries (when certain economic, democratic and social criteria are met). The population of the European Union, when all the 13 candidate countries* * have become members, will amount to 550 million people (more than the combined populations of the USA and Japan). Western Balkan countries are also seeking association with the European Union in the perspective of future membership. The European Union is not just a « commonwealth » of European nations, but a group of European countries pursuing common economic and social policy goals, trading within a single market, using a common currency (for most members), sharing good practice openly and agreeing to certain binding legislation. The European Union policy objectives are to achieve economic and social cohesion across the different member states and in so doing to eliminate regional economic and social disparities and to achieve full employment. It is important to note that in terms of EU policy the focus is on achieving both economic growth and social inclusion. (In practice, the aim is to anticipate labour market and skill changes, to intervene wherever possible to prevent unemployment arising in the first place and then to prevent