To : ETUCE Member Organisations in the European Union and in the candidate countries
For information to:   ETUCE Member Organisations in other countries
Members of the ETUCE Committee
 
Dear colleagues,
 
A new European Commission will be set up in autumn following the European Parliament elections. Therefore, the European Commission is asking our opinion on how to renew its political objectives for the next 5 years (2015-2020).
 
We would like to ask you to fill in the Public Consultation of the European Commission on the EU2020 Strategy prior to 31 October: http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/public-consultation/index_en.htm
 
The questionnaire is available in ALL EUROPEAN LANGUAGES.  We would like to ask you to disseminate is widely and encourage your members to fill it in.
 
Please note, that the EU2020 Strategy has 2 education and training related targets. These two targets derived from the ET2020 Strategic Framework, which set up targets of the European Union on education and training. Both are under revision, and the attached ETUCE position does not only provide guidelines to fill in the questionnaire on EU2020, but also suggests changes on the future EU2020 strategic Framework.
 
Please find more information about these two strategic papers below.
 
We suggest, among other targets, to include the following benchmark into the next ET2020 Strategic Framework: Improve efficient teaching and training by quality initial and continuous professional development of teachers and trainers. Minimum 10 % of the working time of teachers in all education sectors should be spent on continuous professional development.
 
Your sincerely,
 
Martin Romer
European Director
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For your information:
 
EU2020 is an overall strategy of the European Commission and the Council, adopted in 2010 by the Council of Ministers. They adopted headline targets to achieve them in each Member State by 2020. The Country Specific Recommendations of the European Semester Process (EU’s advice to the governments on what areas they should spend their yearly budget) is based on these targets:
1. Employment: 75% of the 20-64 year-olds to be employed
2. R&D: 3% of the EU's GDP to be invested in R&D
3. Climate change and energy sustainability: 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
4. Education: Reducing the rates of early school leaving to below 10%, and at least 40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third level education
5. Fighting poverty and social exclusion: at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion
 
 
Education and Training 2020 strategic framework was set up in 2009 based on headline targets and benchmarks. Two of its benchmarks were put into the overall EU2020 strategy in 2010 (higher education attendance, early school leaving). The Country Specific Recommendations of the European Semester Process (EU’s advice to the governments on what areas they should spend their yearly budget) are based on these targets as well:
 
4 strategic objectives:
1.      Making lifelong learning and mobility a reality
2.      Improving the quality and efficiency of education and training
3.      Promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship
4.      Enhancing creativity and innovation, including entrepreneurship, at all levels of education and training
 
Member States agreed on the following five benchmarks:
1.      Adult participation in lifelong learning: By 2020, an average of at least 15 % of adults should participate in lifelong learning
2.      Low achievers in basic skills: By 2020, the share of low-achieving 15-years olds in reading, mathematics and science (3) should be less than 15 %
3.      Tertiary level attainment: By 2020, the share of 30-34 year olds with tertiary educational attainment (4) should be at least 40 %
4.      Early leavers from education and training: By 2020, the share of early leavers from education and training (5) should be less than 10 %.
5.      Early childhood education: By 2020, at least 95 % of children between 4 years old and the age for starting compulsory primary education should participate in early childhood education