The 4 strategic objectives are the following:

1.
Lifelong learning and mobility need to become a reality with education and vocational training systems being more responsive to change and to the wider world.
2.
The quality and efficiency of education and training need to be improved by paying greater attention to raising the levels of basic skills such as literacy and numeracy, making mathematics, science and technology more attractive and strengthening linguistic abilities.
3.
Equity, social cohesion and active citizenship need to be promoted so that all citizens, irrespective of their personal, social or economic circumstances, can continue to develop job-specific skills throughout their lifetime.
4.
Creativity and innovation, including entrepreneurship, should be encouraged at all levels of education and training since these are key drivers of sustainable economic development. In particular, individuals should be helped to become digitally competent and to develop initiative, entrepreneurship and cultural awareness.

European cooperation under ET 2020 takes the form of exchanges of information and experience on issues common to European countries’ education and training systems. This includes:

peer learning,
periodic monitoring and reporting, and
common reference tools.

Various benchmarks and indicators are set out to measure the progress made towards the different objectives.

The European Commission monitors progress generally and, working with national authorities, considers how to improve the indicators.

The period up to 2020 is divided into a series of work cycles. For the 2016-2020 period, a set of new priorities for European cooperation in education and training were identified. This was done in the form of a joint report, adopted by both the Council of Education Ministers and the Commission in November 2015.

relevant and high-quality skills and competences for employability, innovation, active citizenship and well-being (e.g. creativity, sense of initiative and critical thinking);

inclusive education (i.e. including the increasing diversity of learners), equality, non-discrimination and the promotion of civic competences (e.g. mutual understanding and democratic values);

open and innovative education and training, including fully embracing the digital era;

strong support for educators (e.g. improved recruitment, selection and training processes as well as continuing professional development);

transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications to facilitate learning and labour mobility (e.g. by means of the European quality reference framework);

sustainable investment (including exploring the potential of the investment plan for Europe), performance and efficiency of education and training systems.

According to Article 14 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, ‘Everyone has the right to education and to have access to vocational and continuing training.’

Council conclusions of 12 May 2009 on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020) (OJ C 119 of 28.5.2009, pp. 2-10)

2012 Joint Report of the Council and the Commission on the implementation of the Strategic Framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020) — ‘Education and Training in a smart, sustainable and inclusive Europe’ (OJ C 70, 8.3.2012, pp. 9-18)

2015 Joint Report of the Council and the Commission on the implementation of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020) — New priorities for European cooperation in education and training (OJ C 417, 15.12.2015, pp. 25-35)