Proposal for a Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on key competences for lifelong learning
Brussels, COM(2005) 548 final.

A Working Group on basic skills, established in 2001 in the context of Education and Training 2010 work programme, has developed a framework of key competences needed in a knowledge society and prepared with a number of recommendations on ensuring that all citizens can acquire them.

The 2004 Joint Interim report of the Council and the Commission on the progress of the Education and Training 2010 work programme made the case for common European references and principles to support national policies, facilitate and encourage reform, and gave priority to the key competences framework.

The Recommendation proposed here therefore presents a European reference tool for key competences and suggests how access to these competences can be ensured for all citizens through lifelong learning.