Greater opportunities to learn and study abroad: Council adopts recommendation

The Council has adopted a recommendation that seeks to promote the benefits of learning, studying or training abroad, both within the EU and in non-EU countries.

The recommendation, entitled ‘Europe on the Move’ – learning mobility opportunities for everyone, sets out a number of suggested measures and targets aimed at enabling more people to undertake study, training or non-formal or informal learning outside their country of origin, including people who typically have fewer opportunities to study or learn abroad.

Mobility has long been at the heart of the EU project. Learning abroad can provide valuable skills and a stronger sense of the EU’s common values. Today’s recommendation will help expand opportunities for everyone to take advantage of the immense benefits that come with learning, studying or training outside their country of birth.

Caroline Désir, Minister of Education, French Community of Belgium

The benefits of learning mobility include gaining the knowledge and skills needed for personal, educational, and professional development, tackling skills gaps as part of the green and digital transitions, and building a strong sense of citizenship and an understanding of common values across Europe and beyond. Nevertheless, in a 2022 Eurobarometer survey of Europeans aged 15-30, only 15% of respondents had participated in studying, training or apprenticeships in another EU country. 

In order to encourage greater take-up of learning mobility opportunities, the Council recommendation sets new targets to be achieved at EU level by 2030:

• at least 23% of graduates in higher education should have a learning mobility experience
• at least 12% of learners in vocational education and training (VET) should benefit from learning mobility abroad

Furthermore, member states will continue to make efforts to make learning mobility more inclusive by aspiring to collectively achieve a share of at least 20% of people with fewer opportunities among all learners benefiting from learning mobility abroad at EU level by 2027. The Commission is also invited to propose a methodology so that the Council can consider agreeing on an EU-wide target related to inclusion in the context of learning mobility, and to provide an updated methodology for the higher education target.

Suggested measures to help member states achieve these goals include strengthening language-learning at all stages of education and training, raising awareness about learning mobility opportunities, and improving recognition of learning outcomes obtained as a result of mobility.

The proposal also aims to boost learning mobility for teachers and apprentices, who often face barriers to participating in learning opportunities abroad.

Background 

The proposal for the Council Recommendation ‘Europe on the Move’ – learning mobility opportunities for everyone was adopted by the Commission on 15 November 2023 as part of the Skills and Talent Mobility package. The recommendation sets out a new, broader EU framework for learning mobility that encompasses learners of all ages as well as educators and other staff.