Policy documents and studies
The Bruges Communiqué
The Bruges Communiqué (December 2010) is a package of objectives and actions to increase the quality of 
vocational training in Europe by making it more accessible and relevant to the needs of the labour market.
The Bordeaux Communiqué
The Bordeaux Communique (November 2008) takes stock of the progress achieved, defines priorities for 2008-2010 and introduces the new objective of strengthening the links between VET and the labour market. This ties in with the "New skills for new jobs" initiative on anticipating and matching labour market and skills needs.
The Helsinki Communiqué
The Helsinki Communique (December 2006) reviews the priorities and strategies of the Copenhagen Process on Enhanced European Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training and sets further specific priorities.
The Maastricht Communiqué
The Maastricht Communique (December 2004) expands upon the Copenhagen declaration and includes national level priorities.
The Copenhagen Declaration
The priorities and principles for the Process on Enhanced European Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training were first set out in the Copenhagen Declaration (November 2002). This European strategy aims to improve the overall performance, quality and attractiveness of VET in Europe.
Zooming in on 2010 (Cedefop publication)
This report is one part of Cedefop’s support to the Copenhagen process, underpinning support to policy-makers on challenges and the way ahead with statistical data and research findings.
Vocational education and training – key to the future: Cedefop synthesis of the Maastricht study (Cedefop publication)
Drawing on the Maastricht Study to assess progress in VET, this synthesis report aims to help policy-makers situate the Maastricht Communique in context.
Education benchmarks 2020
This document provides for a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training up until 2020. It also sets out indicators and reference levels for monitoring the progress in the field of education and training in the period 2010-2020.
Education benchmarks 2010
This document proposed a set of indicators and reference levels for monitoring the progress in the field of education and training up until 2010.
A coherent framework of indicators and benchmarks
The coherent framework of indicators and benchmarks for monitoring progress towards the Lisbon objectives in education and training proposes 20 core indicators which are coherent with identified political priorities within the Education and Training 2010 strategy.
Council conclusions on a coherent framework of indicators and benchmarks
The Council conclusions on a coherent framework of indicators and benchmarks identify 16 of the 20 suggested indicators for full exploitation or development work.
Progress Report
The European Commission’s progress report produced by DG Education and Culture and its partners takes annual stock of progress made in attaining the Lisbon objectives in education and training.
Classifications and manuals
- ESSPROS - The European System of Integrated Social Protection Statistics - Manual
- EU Labour Force Survey
- Handbook on price and volume measures in national accounts
- Methodology for the calculation of Eurostat's demographic indicators
- RAMON (Eurostat’s Metadata Server)
- Terminology of vocational training policy (Cedefop Publication)
- The 3rd Continuing Vocational Training Survey Manual
- UOE data collection on education systems Manual: concepts, definitions and classifications
- International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED)
- InternationalClassification of Economic Activities (NACE Rev. 1.1.)
- International Classification of Economic Activities (NACE Rev. 2)
