Summaries of EU legislation
Education, training, youth, sport

With its programmes for education, training, youth and sport, the European Union (EU) is developing and strengthening the European dimension, promoting mobility and encouraging international cooperation through the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes. Education and training also play essential roles in a knowledge-based economy, as do policies for youth and sport. They all support recovery, growth and employment by encouraging the emergence of a highly qualified, versatile and adaptable population.
The EU supports and complements the EU Member States ’ actions in accordance with Articles 165 and 166 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. While fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States for teaching content and the organisation of education systems, the European Education Area is based on a shared vision: by 2025, everybody should have access to quality education and training in a genuine common European learning space. Learners and teachers should be able to move easily between education systems in different Member States, while a culture of lifelong learning should become the norm.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the long period of school closures have further highlighted the need to address the challenges and opportunities of digital education. With the 2021–2027 Digital Education Action Plan , the EU supports the sustainable and effective adaptation of the Member States’ education and training systems to the digital age.
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Education and Training
- A European Education area by 2025
- System for the recognition of professional qualifications
- Statistics on education and lifelong learning
- The Bologna process: setting up the European higher education area
- Technology and open educational resources to reshape EU education
- Schools — EU agenda to improve competences and learning for the 21st century
- School development and excellent teaching
- Reducing early school leaving
- Promoting multilingualism in the EU
- Qualitative assessment of school education
- Media literacy and critical thinking — education’s role
- Lifelong learning – European qualifications
- Mutual learning programme
- Lawyers practising abroad on a permanent basis — EU rules
- Multilingualism - an asset and a commitment
- Modernising vocational education and training in Europe
- Mobility for students, trainees, young volunteers, teachers and trainers
- Generating entrepreneurship in education and training
- Gender equality in sport
- Improving the quality of teacher education
- Eurydice — European network for information on education systems and policies
- European survey on language competences
- European Solidarity Corps programme 2021–2027
- European Training Foundation (ETF)
- European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
- European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)
- Europass — supporting learning and working in Europe
- EU programmes — agencies
- EU cooperation in education and training (ET 2020)
- EU cooperation in education and training — priorities 2016-2020
- Erasmus+ European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport
- Ensuring quality in vocational education and training (VET)
- Efficiency and equity in EU education and training systems
- Education systems — the key to a skilled workforce and more jobs
- Education’s contribution to socioeconomic development and inclusiveness
- Education of children from migrant backgrounds
- Cooperation in vocational education and training (VET)
- Childhood education: fostering creativity, innovation and digital competence
- A renewed EU agenda for higher education
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Youth
- Combating violent radicalisation — the youth sector’s role
- Youth participation and information with regard to EU policies
- Youth Guarantee
- Youth empowerment and participation in civil society
- Young volunteers — mobility within the EU
- Mobility for students, trainees, young volunteers, teachers and trainers
- Higher education — cooperation between EU and non-EU countries
- European Solidarity Corps programme 2021–2027
- Erasmus+ European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport
- Culture’s role in EU development cooperation
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Sport
- Children — encouraging physical and sport activities
- Sport — a spur to innovation and excellence
- Security in connection with football events with an international dimension
- White Paper on sport
- Major sports events — enhancing the integrity of sport
- Free movement of sportspeople in the EU
- European dimension in sport
- EU activities to combat doping in sport
- Erasmus+ European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport
- Combating doping in recreational sport
- European statistics
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Archived summaries
- A coherent framework of indicators and benchmarks for monitoring the Lisbon objectives
- Action plan on language learning and linguistic diversity
- Action plan for mobility
- Action Plan on Adult learning - It's never too late to learn
- Action plan for skills and mobility
- Admission of non-EU nationals for the purposes of study, training or voluntary service
- Adult learning
- Adult learning: It is never too late to learn
- Advisory Committee on Vocational Training
- Building on the achievements of the European Year of Education through Sport 2004
- Bulgaria
- Challenges facing young people: enhancing cross-sectorial policy cooperation
- Common objectives for participation by and information for young people
- Common objectives for voluntary activities
- Common objectives for a better understanding and knowledge of youth
- Comett I
- Comett II
- Concrete future objectives of education systems
- Controls on firearms purchases and possession
- Council Resolution on eLearning
- Croatia – Education and culture
- Cyprus
- Delivering lifelong learning for knowledge, creativity and innovation
- Early Childhood Education and Care
- Early language teaching
- Education and training in the nuclear energy field
- Education, Audiovisual and Cultural Executive Agency
- Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency
- eLearning - Designing tomorrow's education
- Education and new technologies
- Education and skills agenda for young people
- Education and training in the context of poverty reduction
- Enhanced EU cooperation in vocational education and training
- Erasmus+ — EU transnational partnerships in education, training, youth and sport
- Erasmus Mundus (2004-08)
- Erasmus Mundus 2009-2013
- Estonia
- EU 2016-2018 Work Plan for Youth
- EUROPASS-Training
- EU Youth Strategy
- Europass - greater mobility for learning and working in Europe
- European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)
- European benchmarks in education and training
- European area of lifelong learning
- European cooperation in the youth field (2010-18)
- European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET)
- European Job Mobility Action Plan (2007-2010)
- European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
- European Quality Charter for Mobility
- European Solidarity Corps
- European Year of Languages 2001
- European Year of Lifelong Learning (1996)
- Eurotecnet
- European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship (2011)
- European Youth Pact
- European Year of Creativity and Innovation (2009)
- European Year of Education through Sport 2004
- Hungary
- Iceland – Education and culture
- Force
- Green Paper on the education of children from migrant backgrounds
- Green Paper on the learning mobility of young people
- Green Paper: the obstacles to transnational mobility
- Framework of cooperation in higher education, training and youth with Canada
- Framework of European cooperation in the youth field
- Free movement of goods for sporting purposes
- Incorporating the specific characteristics of sport and its social functions into the implementation of common policies
- Indicators on the quality of school education
- Financial education
- Health and well-being of young people
- Investing efficiently in education and training
- Investing in education and training to boost employability
- Modernising education and training: a vital contribution to prosperity and social cohesion in Europe
- Modernising higher education in the EU
- Modernising universities
- Iris
- IRIS II
- Malta
- Key competences for a changing world
- Latvia
- Maximising the potential of youth policy in addressing the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy
- Netd ys Europe
- Lifelong learning — key competences
- Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-13
- Leonardo da Vinci (Phase II) 2000-2006
- Lifelong learning: European Qualifications
- Media literacy in the digital environment
- Lithuania
- New skills for new jobs
- Poland
- Promoting creativity and innovation through education and training
- Promoting entrepreneurship in schools and universities
- Quality of higher education
- Promoting young people's full participation in education, employment and society
- Promoting young people's initiative, enterprise and creativity
- Recognition of non-formal and informal learning (in the field of youth)
- Online learning: eLearning Programme (2004-06)
- Reform of the universities in the framework of the Lisbon strategy
- Participation of young people with fewer opportunities
- Prevention and control of hooliganism
- Priorities for vocational education and training (2011-2020)
- PETRA I
- PETRA II
- Programme for cooperation in higher education and vocational education and training with the United States
- Programme to promote bodies active at European level and support specific activities (2004 - 2006)
- Programme to promote non-governmental organisations active in the youth field (2004 - 2006)
- Right of residence for students
- Romania
- The role of universities in the Europe of knowledge
- Tempus III (2000-06)
- White Paper on Youth
- The Czech Republic
- The EU's Social Investment package
- The European Indicator of Language Competence
- Turkey – Education and culture
- Slovakia
- Twinning between secondary schools
- Success of Lisbon strategy hinges on urgent reforms
- The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – Education and culture
- Slovenia
- Social inclusion of young people
- SOCRATES - Phase II
- University-business cooperation
- Urgent measures to be taken to combat doping in sport
- Tackling early school leaving
- The Lisbon Special European Council (March 2000): Towards a Europe of Innovation and Knowledge
- Sport's role in promoting growth, jobs, social inclusion and health
- Work Plan for Sport 2011-2014
- Work programme on the follow-up of the objectives of education and training systems in Europe
- Youth action programme 2000-2006
- Youth employment: opportunities
- Youth in Action (2007-13)
- Youth mobility
- Youth work - key contribution to social cohesion