Over summer, the European Commission published a report summarising the key outcomes of the public consultation on the mid-term evaluation of the European Education Area (EEA). The consultation ran from April to June 2024 (for more details, see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, April 2024). A total of 279 respondents from 26 member states and several non-EU countries took part in the consultations. This number includes academic institutions, citizens, NGOs, public authorities and trade unions. 

The public consultation resulted in the following outcomes: 

• Making lifelong learning and learning mobility in another country available for all are among the top two priority areas for European cooperation for the largest number of respondents (98% and 96% of respondents selecting “highly important” and “somewhat important” response options, respectively). 

• The priority that was seen as highly important by most respondents was quality, equity, inclusion and success for all in education and training (79%, or 217 out of 273). 

• European cooperation in higher education has been most successful in supporting member states’ work in this field since 2021 according to 70% of respondents who selected “strongly successful” and “successful” response options as compared to VET (47%), school education (40%), adult learning (35%), non-formal education (34%) and early childhood education (32%). 

• The Erasmus+ programmes remains the most demanded instrument of the EEA (used by 80% of respondents), followed by delivering evidence relevant for education and training reforms (used by 48%), events organised by the Commission (47%), communities of practice (44%) and making use of the adoption of Council Recommendations in the field of education and training (43%). 

• Equally, the most successful activities were found to be mobility and cooperation opportunities under Erasmus+ (92% ‘to some/significant extent’ successful), followed by mutual learning and exchange of good practices (88%, or 230 out of 260), and setting common European priorities in education and training. 

• The EEA had the highest added value in triggering the use of available EU funding to support national/regional/local and cross-border measures and reforms. 

Written contributions emphasised the significance of the EEA in enhancing the teaching profession, improving digital and green skills, and fostering lifelong learning and mobility. Advancements in digital education tools and the rising recognition of micro-credentials were highlighted as key achievements of the EEA.