Mid term review of the Lifelong Learning Programme

During its first three years, the Programme has financed, with almost EUR 3 billion, transnational education and training activities promoting the modernisation of education systems in 31 European countries.
It has catered for 900 000 learning mobility periods of European citizens, of which more than 720000 by students and almost 180000 by teachers/trainers/staff. More than 50000 European organisations have taken part in various forms of co-operation activities. Download the Mid term review of the Lifelong Learning Programme.
INTRODUCTION
In accordance with Article 15, paragraph 5 of the Decision No. 1720/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning (LLP Decision: OJ L327, 15.11.2006, p. 45), this report provides information on the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP). It builds on the findings of the LLP interim evaluation, on National Reports on LLP implementation from the 31 participating countries and on information gathered by the Commission. National reports provided by countries participating in the LLP (27 EU Member States, EEA countries and Turkey) in agreement with paragraph 15.4 of the LLP Decision and covering the 2007-09 period were important sources of information and data for the overall interim evaluation of the LLP.
CONCLUSIONS
The Lifelong Learning Programme is considered by the external evaluation as relevant and instrumental to reaching the key Education and Training objectives agreed at EU level and thereby contributing to attaining the overarching strategic objectives of the European Union. It is also important for the lives of the individual citizens involved, user friendly, highly popular and addresses the needs of its various target communities. The control framework is working effectively.
But there is still room for improvements. Some of them are of a managerial nature and are within the reach of the Commission. Most are more far-reaching and would require a review and rethinking of the design of the Programme.
Based on the mid-term review of the LLP, the Commission intends to:
- fix the management framework that has reached a good quality level with stable rules, procedures and IT tools minimising efforts throughout the implementation chain: Commission, National Agencies, final beneficiaries. Potential change will be assessed against a thorough cost-benefit and risk analysis;
- examine as a matter of urgency the possibility to simplify audits by replacing the current approach of untargeted sampling with a new one, based on a serious risk assessment strategy ;
- test new exchange platforms or the extension of existing platforms or other means to facilitate exchanges of information and know-how to match offer and demand for cooperation projects and mobility (e.g. Leonardo or Erasmus placement partner search).
Without prejudging its proposals for the next programme generation in the context of the new MFF, the Commission intends to:
- reflect on a comprehensive policy framework for the new MFF, seeking synergies between different types of EU-financed investments in education and training, to avoid overlaps and maximise impact;
- consider how to further build on the strengths of the existing Programme to contribute to the overarching Europe 2020, E&T 2020 and the Digital Agenda objectives. EU-wide actions engaging all Member States in similar activities with common objectives, transnational learning mobility, providing evidence for policy reform, serving as an incubator for innovative actions and best practices, exchange and networking at low cost, are all areas where the Programme excels;
- reflect how better to balance ambitious targets, notably through meaningful concentration, streamlining, simplification and better impact measurement;
- prepare the management and control framework for the next Programme generation to ensure a seamless start-up phase and full exploitation of all possible simplifications.