Brussels, 12/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - There is only one point on the agenda for the Monday 15 February 2010 Education Council in Brussels chaired by the Spanish education minister, Ángel Gabilondo Pujol, namely the role of education and training in the EU's strategy for the next ten years, aka EU 2020. As part of its preparations for the EU's new strategy for 2020, the ministers will discuss the role of education and training in helping European boost growth and jobs. Before their debate, the ministers will adopt a joint Council of Ministers and Commission report on progress in impel meting the '2010 Education and Training' programme, noting progress since reference objectives were decided upon for 2007-2009. Despite general improvements in outcomes, the report concludes that few of the reference objectives will actually be met in 2010. It lists a number of huge challenges for the future like making greater effort to ensure true lifelong learning is put in place, increasing mobility, ensuring education and training are more open and suited to the needs of the labour market and establishing partnerships between academia and the world of work. The meeting will end with the signing of an agreement between the EU and Switzerland to allow Switzerland to participate in the EU's 'Youth in Action' programme and the EU's lifelong learning programme for 2007 to 2013. (I.L. trans fl)