Bruges Communiqué on Enhanced European Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training

Brussels, 08/12/2010

This Communiqué brings to a culmination the process launched by the Copenhagen Declaration in November 2002, commonly referred to as the “Copenhagen process.”

At the informal meeting of the EU Council of Ministers for Education, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) assessed the contents of the Bruges Communiqué in a positive light, and recognised and lauded the efforts carried out by the Member States, by the different EU presidencies that have promoted it, especially Belgium, as well as the support of the European Centre for the Development of vocational Training (CEDEFOP) and of Education and Training for Employability (ETF). Representatives from the business world also displayed positive tendencies.

For ETUC, this agreement is reached within the framework of important initiatives such as “Youth on the Move,” and “New Knowledge and Jobs” to promote life-long education and training.

ETUC would like to stress the positive message of the Bruges Communiqué which for European citizens should mean that the EU, the governments of the Member States, and the European Social partners set a reference for European coordination and cooperation in a topic of social and collective interest such as vocational education and training.

ETUC wanted to underscore certain concrete aspects that guide the Bruges Communiqué:
- Define short-term objectives;
- Establish responsibilities and actions at European and national level;
- Set criteria for cooperation and coordination.

ETUC wishes to stress certain principles and objectives established by the Bruges Communiqué:
- Make vocational education and training attractive;
- Enable access to vocational education and training;
- Foster excellence and quality in initial vocational education and training;
- Promote flexible systems for vocational education and training;
- Make progress on the objective of the European education area.

For ETUC, this initiative should help training and qualification and must promote employment.

ETUC has stressed that the approval of the Bruges Communiqué brings to a culmination a social dialogue process that should enter in a new and intensive stage. It therefore appreciates the initiation of consultation by the European Commission for the European initiative for the recognition of informal and non-formal education and training.

This new phase, this social dialogue, with the participation of the social partners at European and national levels, must make progress in particular on such issues as:
- The quality of teachers and trainers, their qualification and their rights;
- The linkage of vocational education and training to other teaching;
- The funding;
- The quality of continuing vocational education and training;
- Progress on the development of the European Qualifications Framework;
- Internationalisation.
- The efficacy of mechanisms that guarantee the transition from the education system to the labour market.
All of the foregoing within the context of guaranteeing life-long education and training.

For ETUC, in a world that is changing and in crisis, the measures taken should be geared to improving the situation of citizens.
In addition to training for employment, this initiative on vocational education and training addresses the need to make progress on inclusion and social cohesion.

ETUC therefore reiterates that initiatives such as the Bruges Communiqué on Enhanced European Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training will prove most efficacious in a context of employment and labour market policies that guarantee growth and stable employment with rights, as well as a policy for protection and social cohesion that guarantees and expands the rights of citizens, especially young people, now and in the future.