Cedefop monitors developments in vocational education and training (VET) across EU Member States, Iceland and Norway (EU-27+) to support evidence-based policymaking and policy learning. The work builds primarily on annual reporting by ReferNet, Cedefop’s network of expertise on VET.
Through its monitoring and analysis, Cedefop:
- examines national reforms and initiatives and keeps track of national progress in implementing the agreed priorities;
- identifies emerging trends, innovative approaches and examples of practice across the countries;
- provides evidence to support national policy-making and European policy coordination, including the European Semester.
Cedefop informs stakeholders by:
- an interactive online tool, the Timeline of VET policies in Europe, with more than 1 000 national VET and lifelong learning strategies, action plans, legislation, and practical measures;
- synthesis reports and policy briefs;
- thematic Insights;
- country reports;
- events.
Cedefop has been monitoring and analysing progress towards EU priorities since the launch of the Copenhagen process in 2002. Between 2021 and 2025, the priorities were set out in the Council Recommendation on VET, the Osnabrück Declaration, and in the national implementation plans developed by the EU-27+.
The Herning Declaration in 2025 renewed the policy agenda with more focus on attractiveness and inclusiveness of VET, competitiveness and job quality, while addressing skills shortages, teacher shortages and wellbeing, learner wellbeing, harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence, and promoting lifelong learning and mobility.
Cedefop cooperates with the European Training Foundation (ETF) that monitors the candidate countries.