European Commissioner for Education, Jan Figel, visited the USA from 6 to 8 February where he held discussions with US counterparts on how to re-engage European-US cooperation in higher education and vocational training. He met with Margaret Spellings, the US Secretary for Education and other senior government officials with a view to renew European-US cooperation in higher education, that since its conception in 1995 has involved 600 institutions and 3000 students but has staggered in recent months with budget fears on the US side.

Last July, ACA Newsletter - Education Europe had reported on the possibility of a revival following a summit in Washington in June 2005. This is set to emerge in a forthcoming programme which is currently under discussion, and will be relaunched soon.