Brussels, 30/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - At an event organised by the Troika of Education Ministers on the fringes of the Education, Culture and Youth Culture on 24 May, the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (UEAPME) stressed the importance of setting professional training on an equal footing with general education. 'Vocational training plays a crucial role in addressing the needs of the labour market and this must be recognised. Steps must be taken to ensure vocational training has the same status as other types of higher level education,' said Hans-Werner Muller, Secretary General of UEAPME. Muller welcomed the inclusion of education and training in the integrated Growth and Employment Guidelines, saying it was a positive development recognising the direct link between education and employment and hence productivity. Likewise, the UEAPME welcomed the inclusion in the integrated guidelines of education in entrepreneurship as a means of increasing employment and strengthening innovation in the EU. The organisation recalled the importance of indicators on education and training and welcomed the Council's pledge to work on language skills (see Europe No. 8954). 'Language skills are vital for a strong EU labour market and for ensuring mobility of workers and it is positive that this is being recognised as a priority,' said Muller. He was more sceptical about the adoption of new indicators (ministers adopted conclusions on the development of new parameters on Tuesday, see EUROPE 8954) which 'would dilute the overall effectiveness of the strategy'. The UEAPME urged Member States to pledge 'without delay' to meet the targets in 2010, 'increasing the proportion of students in the scientific and technological disciplines to 15% and reducing the level of school drop-outs to 10% are key targets for improving European Competitiveness'.