Brussels, 31/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - Specialists in vocational training met on 25 May in Thessalonica at the Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) for an exchange of views on practical, cultural and “emotional” aspects of mobility in Europe. The CEDEFOP conference, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Community study visits programme announced “an Experience that Will Get Europe Moving”. Media professionals also began discussions on the challenges to Europe created by economic globalisation and the importance of improving the levels of skills in the Union. Three writers (Predrag Matevjevic, Nedim Gürsel and Takis Théodoropoulos) discussed cultural aspects of mobility. The study visit programme aims to encourage exchanges and discussions between vocational training providers in Europe through visits of small groups of experts from 30 countries in a host country on a specific subject. CEDEFOP said that it also contributed to bringing countries closer together as it was used to facilitate integration of Central and Eastern European countries, as well as Cyprus and Malta as full EU members. On this basis, the European Union has introduced other mobility programmes for individuals seeking training abroad (Socrates and Erasmus for students and Leonardo da Vinci for young people receiving vocational training.