Strasbourg, 25/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 24 October, the European Parliament adopted the report of Mario Mantovani (EPP-ED, Italy) on the European Qualification Framework (EQF). Parliament was pleased to announce that this framework, proposed by the European Commission, aims to ease cross-border mobility for workers and students through a common reference framework for describing qualifications. MEPs are demanding that all qualifications, from school leavers' diplomas through training certificates to the highest academic degrees (the Commission proposal only targeted general education) are assigned to one of eight reference levels, based on knowledge, skills and competence acquired. Parliament also asked member states to transpose the EQF into their national systems by 2010, a year later than the Commission's request. By 2012, all levels of qualifications, diplomas and “Europass” documents awarded by the competent authorities should contain a clear reference to an EQF's reference level. The French Socialist delegation explained that, “diplomas and qualifications are awarded by each member state according to their own systems and procedures. The EQF will only be a tool used for comparing, translating and converting the qualifications of one member state in another. This framework will respect the diversity of certification systems and the wealth of qualifications existing in the Union”. The report emphasised that in order for the EQF to work effectively and comprehensively, it will also be necessary for economic partners and professional branches to take ownership of them because it will be them who confirm competencies, grant qualifications in the long term and integrate the EQF. (I.L.)