About half the European population acquiresskills through vocational education and training(VET). The European Union (EU), its MemberStates and social partners (1) are committed tomaking Europe's education and trainingsystems the best in the world. This requiresVET to respond to rapid changes in labourmarkets and technology. VET must be integralto systems of lifelong learning, to enable peopleto adapt and develop their skills continuously.To achieve this, the EU began to developsystematic policy priorities and commonEuropean tools in 2000.