Brussels, 10/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 10 February, EU education ministers adopted at the Education Council in Brussels the joint 2012 report on implementation of the “strategic framework for European cooperation in the field of education and training”. The report assesses actions and developments during the first cycle of implementing the strategic framework (2009-2011) and establishes priorities for European policy cooperation during the next cycle (2012-2014), which are aimed to a large extent at mobilising education and training in support of the EUROPE 2020 strategy. The report indicates that, despite a general improvement in the situation, progress towards the original five EU benchmarks from 2009 has been slower than anticipated. It also underlines the urgent need for real follow-up by member states of EU level policy guidance and jointly agreed orientations. Finally, it underlines how important it is to effectively invest in reforming education and training in order to promote sustainable growth and create jobs. The five reference criteria fixed in 2009 are: (1) participation of at least 95% of children in early childhood education; (2) less than 15% of 15-year-olds with insufficient abilities in reading, mathematics and science; (3) less than 10% of early school leavers; (4) 40% of 30-34-year-olds with tertiary educational attainment; and (5) participation of at least 15% of adults (age group 25-64) in lifelong learning. (IL/transl.jl)