In February 2006 the Finnish Ministry of Education sent a questionnaire to the DGVT members aiming to seek guidance on the main policy lines to be reflected in the forthcoming Council Conclusions and Communiqu on the follow-up of the Copenhagen process.

The questions of the inquiry were also used as a basis for a general discussion in the March DGVT meeting. The participation to the inquiry was very active and the replies laid a good foundation for further work, for which we would like to thank the DGVT members. The findings of the inquiry were presented in spring to the ETCG and ACVT meetings.

Based on the feedback, a Background paper was prepared and presented to the Education Committee in its July meeting. Following this, draft Council Conclusions were prepared based on the feedback from your representatives in the Committee. These draft Conclusions have now been discussed in two Education Committee meetings, with the aim of being adopted in the November Council.