This document, issued by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Culture and Education, reports on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on a common framework for the provision of better services for skills and qualifications (Europass), that is an essential component of the New Skills Agenda for Europe.

After more than a decade since the establishment of the Europass, the framework will undergo a revision to make improvements in response to technological developments as well as changing labour market, education and training landscapes. The new common framework provided with this text serves to adapt Europass services. In this document the European Parliament maintains that Europass should not be made into a completely new instrument and that it should not become a “one stop” portal on education and training. The revision of Europass should also aim to improve the understanding of learning acquired not only in formal, but also in non-formal and informal settings and through practical experiences, including mobility. The role of National Europass Centres, who implement the Europass framework, is discussed as a cornerstone of the new framework. Core targets as, simplification, effectiveness and efficiency are emphasized in the document. A European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations framework (ESCO) ,piloted by the Commission as a common language and operational tool for education/training and work, as basis for a Europass reference terminology is assessed in its feasibility and limitations.  

European Parliament