The Commission today decided to grant over €30 million to European cooperation projects in the field of adult education. The package – funded by the Grundtvig action under the EU’s education/training programme Socrates – will support 2,500 organisations involved in the general education of adults.

Announcing the new funding package in Brussels, Jn Figel, European Commissioner in charge of Education and Training, underlined the importance of adult education for the future of the Union: Learning does not stop when you finish school or university. We live in a rapidly changing world in the Information Age, and our workforce must make sure it has the general skills required by our demanding globalised environment. Also, as our society ages, it is more important than ever before that adults continue to learn new skills or refresh old knowledge throughout their lives.

The Commissioner pointed out that the Grundtvig funding granted today boosts the support we are giving to adults from all walks of life all over the EU to equip themselves with the basic skills needed to confront the challenges that lie ahead.