The European education area (EEA) is set to become a common space for quality inclusive education and lifelong learning across borders for all EU citizens.

The overall approach to making the EEA a reality was laid out in the 2020 Commission communication on achieving the EEA by 2025 and two 2021 Council resolutions: on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the EEA and beyond (2021-2030) and on the strategic framework's governance structure. The 2021 strategic framework resolution stated that the achievement and further development of the EEA would be the strategic framework's overarching political objectives and would happen over two work cycles: a first (2021-2025), which should enable the creation of the EEA by 2025, and a second (2026-2030), which would further develop the EEA. The Council also asked the Commission to publish a full report on the EEA in 2025. On the basis of the 2025 evaluation report, the Council would review the strategic framework and make any necessary adjustments for the 2026-2030 cycle, so as to adapt to the reality and needs of the EEA and any other major developments in the EU.

In November 2022, the Commission adopted its progress report on completing the EEA by 2025. The report, comprising a Commission communication accompanied by a staff working document (SWD), analysed in particular key actions, governance, investment and mobilisation of EU funds, and work on EU-level indicators. The 2022 Education and Training Monitor complementing the report took stock of progress to attain EU-level targets in education and training, and examined key policy trends in the Member States. The report noted that steps had been taken on all 40 EU-level EEA actions, which were either under preparation or in the process of being implemented. A midterm review of the EEA's implementation took place in 2023.

As work towards building the EEA continued, in April 2023 the Commission adopted two proposals for Council recommendations: on key enabling factors for successful digital education and training, and on improving the provision of digital skills and competences in education and training. In November 2023, the Council adopted the two recommendations. Moreover, in November 2023, the Commission put forward a proposal for a Council recommendation on a renewed learning mobility framework; the Council adopted the recommendation in May 2024. In March 2024, the Commission adopted a package of initiatives with a view to working towards a European degree. The package consisted of a Commission communication on a blueprint for a European degree and two Commission proposals for a Council recommendation: one on attractive and sustainable careers in higher education, and one on a European quality assurance and recognition system in higher education. The Council adopted the first recommendation in November 2024, and the second in May 2025. Moreover, in May 2025, the Council approved a resolution on a joint European degree label and the next steps towards a possible joint European degree.

In July 2025, the Commission published a report on the interim evaluation of the 2021-2030 EEA strategic framework. In November 2025, the Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council took note of the current status of the draft resolution on the second cycle of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training. The resolution, which would update the two 2021 Council resolutions relating to the strategic framework and its governance structure, outlines the work programme for EU-level cooperation in the areas of education and training over the next five years.

Since the 2017 Social Summit in Gothenburg, the Parliament has dedicated a number of debates to the subject of the EEA, and parliamentary questions on relevant topics have been addressed to the Commission and the Council.

The Parliament adopted its resolution on 'The European Education Area: a shared holistic approach' in November 2021. While welcoming the Commission's commitment to create the EEA by 2025, it called for clear priorities with achievable targets and deadlines for actions, and a common implementation strategy and roadmap. The Parliament stressed the need for adequate funding for the establishment, implementation, and development of the EEA. It also called for the creation of a financial instrument in the 2028−2034 multi-annual financial framework to further develop the EEA and facilitate the mutual recognition of qualifications, and asked to allocate at least 10 % of the RRF funding to education. Member States were requested to increase public spending in education to above the EU average. The necessity to incorporate a greater European perspective in curricula and teacher training programmes was also highlighted.

In May 2022, the Parliament adopted its resolution on ˈEstablishing the European Education Area by 2025 − micro credentials, individual learning accounts and learning for a sustainable environmentˈ. It welcomed the Commission proposals to develop a European approach to these policy initiatives while stressing that micro-credentials and individual learning accounts could be important in terms of upskilling, reskilling, and obtaining officially recognised qualifications. The Parliament asked the Commission to create a robust instrument that motivates the Member States to implement micro-credentials, which should remain voluntary. It stressed that labour market needs should not too narrowly limit the choices available through individual learning accounts and that environmental literacy be mainstreamed across educational curricula in the EU. 

References:

• European Parliament Legislative Observatory, Procedure file for The European Education Area: a shared holistic approach to education, skills and competences, 2020/2243(INI) 
• European Parliament, Resolution of 11 November 2021 on the European Education Area: a shared holistic approach, 2020/2243(INI)
• European Parliament, Resolution of 19 May 2022 on establishing the European Education Area by 2025 – micro-credentials, individual learning accounts and learning for a sustainable environment, 2022/2568(RSP)
• European Commission, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on achieving the European Education Area by 2025, COM(2020) 625 final, Brussels, 30 September 2020
• European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, Progress towards the achievement of the European Education Area : communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022
• European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, Interim evaluation of the 2021-2030 European Education Area strategic framework – Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Publications Office of the European Union, 2025
• Council of the European Union, Resolution on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area and beyond (2021- 2030), Brussels, 26 February 2021 
• Council of the European Union, Resolution on the governance structure of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area and beyond (2021-2030), Brussels, 10 December 2021
• Committee of the Regions, Achieving the European Education Area by 2025, Brussels, 19 March 2021
• European Economic and Social Committee, Education Package, Brussels, 18 October 2018

Further reading:

• European Parliament, EPRS, Taking stock of progress towards the European education area, Briefing, January 2023
• European Parliament, EPRS, Creating a European education area by 2025: Midterm review of progress, At a glance, October 2023

Author: Krisztina Binder, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu