Brussels, 06/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 6 September, the European Commission adopted a recommendation aiming to establish the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (EQF). This framework, which is designed to promote the transparency of European education and training systems and to make them more accessible to the general public, will establish common references to help the Member States, businesses and citizens to compare certificates issued by the various European systems. Representing one of the concrete achievements of the working programme "Education and Training 2010", which was launched by the European Spring Councils of 2005 and 2006 with a view to achieving the social and economic development objectives laid down in Lisbon in March 2000, the EQF comprises eight levels of reference covering all certificates awarded from the end of compulsory schooling to the higher levels of university education and professional training. They describe the "learning outcomes" of the certificate-holder (what he or she knows, understands and is capable of doing), irrespective of the system under which their qualifications were awarded and the resources applied to acquire this knowledge (length of a learning experience, type of institution), shifting the focus away from the traditional approach. The Commission takes the view that laying emphasis on these learning outcomes: - guarantees a better match with the needs of the market place (in terms of knowledge, skills and competencies); - facilitates the validation of non-formal and informal learning; -facilitates the transfer and use of qualifications across different countries and education and training systems. As an instrument to support life-long learning, the EQF covers general and adult education, vocational training and higher education. The recommendation proposes that the Member States relate their national qualification systems to the EQF by 2009. The framework will then be able to function as a transposition tool helping to compare the qualification levels between the different systems.