Brussels, 26/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - Like all the other configurations of the Council, the Education, Youth and Culture Council approved a contribution to discussion on the Lisbon Strategy after 2010. The three brief messages to the European Council in December seek to demonstrate the importance of observing the objectives set in education: 1) in this period of global economic slowdown, it is essential that Europe take full advantage of the potential of all and continues to promote increased, more effective and better targeted investment in quality education and training; 2) it will be essential that the objectives set in the new strategic framework “Education and Training 2020” are reached and that it is ensured that education and training play a major role in the Lisbon Strategy for after 2010: a solid set of key skills for both young people and adults, and full possibilities for life-long education and training are of the highest importance to boost adaptability and innovation; furthermore, setting up partnerships between education and training establishments of all levels and the outside world, particularly the world of work, must be continued; 3) enhancing Europe's innovation capabilities requires closer interaction between the three sides of the knowledge triangle (education, research, innovation). A knowledge, creativity, innovation and enterprise Europe needs education and training systems that promote creativity, innovation and enterprise, initial vocational training and continuous professional improvement schemes of the highest possible quality for teaching staff at all levels and a stronger determination to set up a European higher education area and a European research area and to ensure that the complement one another. (I.L./transl.rt)