The ministers in charge of vocational education and training (VET) in the EU Member States, candidate countries and EEA countries, the European social partners and the European Commission endorsed on 30 November the ‘Osnabrück declaration on VET as an enabler of recovery and just transitions to digital and green economies’.
Osnabrück declaration replaces the Riga conclusions of 2015, sets out new policy actions in VET for the period of 2021-25 to complement and operationalise the vision and strategic objectives of the ‘Council recommendation on vocational education and training for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience’.
In the declaration, the ministers vow to contribute to the post-COVID recovery and to further develop the European education and training area through future-oriented and innovative education and training systems to support the digital and green transitions and improve employability and competitiveness, stimulating economic growth.
They stress that a strong partnership with social partners is vital for achieving the objectives and deliverables set out in the declaration, noting also the value of the support shown by European-level VET providers’ associations and learners’ organisations.
Key objectives of the Osnabrück declaration
- Resilience and excellence through quality, inclusive and flexible VET
- Establishing a new lifelong learning culture – relevance of continuing VET and digitalisation
- Sustainability – a green link in VET
- European education and training area and international dimension of VET.
Cedefop and its sister agency ETF will monitor the Osnabrück declaration and report annually to the institutions.
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