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Section 5: Vision for the future

which could be applicable in other areas too. As a should be modified according to the new needs of
network it has to examine the processes, dynamics the Europe 2020 master strategy and its seven flag-
and tensions that arise in the effort to co-construct ship initiatives. ELGPN as a network must foster
policy directions in and across Europe. At the mem- the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy in
ber-country level these can relate to definitions of the EU as well as in the member-states. Of the five
lifelong guidance activities, the mixture of repre- Europe 2020 ‘headline indicators’, three (1, 4, 5) are
sentation across the relevant ministries, the sustain- potentially linked directly to the further develop-
ability of the national teams and their mandates in ment of European lifelong guidance systems and
relation to policy-making. The complexities of policy policies, and are only reachable if lifelong guidance
learning and policy transfer vary in relation to the is examined as a cross-cutting element between the
level of centralisation or de-centralisation of their current governmental sectors of the EU adminis-
national policies. Depending on their current situa- tration as well as the member-states’ governmen-
tion, some countries are more active than others in tal structures. Lifelong guidance requires actions in
policy development. In some parts of the EU, there multiple fields and should be integrated in key EU
are also tendencies towards regional groupings. funding programmes and be addressed in all relevant
The tensions between the participating countries political dialogues.
can relate to, for example: diversity vs. ‘shepherding’ The first six years of ELGPN (2007–12) have created
into a policy direction; redefining access in relation active collaboration between relevant governmental
to markets for guidance; cost-effectiveness vs. unin- and non-governmental bodies across its member
tentional social injustice; or the identification of countries and other relevant networks, as well as
performance indicators in lifelong guidance. From with the relevant units of DG EAC and DG EMPL.
a wider perspective there could also be a tension The ELGPN Work Programme 2011–12 has devel-
relating to whether the network is policy-driven or oped a Resource Kit which can be used in Network
evidence-driven. This requires attention to the links member countries in support of the development
between research and policy. A challenge for ELGPN and implementation of European lifelong guidance
is to analyse its role in policy development, espe- systems and policies and of related economic, social
cially the interaction between EU member-states, and and political goals. Based on prior ELGPN experi-
between member-states and the European Commis- ence, the further work will concentrate on three main
sion, in the context of a member-state-led European activities:
policy network supported by the European Union.
From a wider EU policy perspective, the creation • dissemination and application of the Resource
of the ELGPN has helped policy-makers to meet the Kit in each member country, with support from
challenges they face in enhancing national reforms clusters of other countries (Policy Review Clus-
through implementing the Europe 2020 Strategy, as ters);
Future
well as the tools supporting the strategy (including • work of output-oriented Thematic Task Groups
the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the (TTGs);
European Credit System for Vocational Education • review and further development of the Resource
and Training (ECVET), and others). The added value Kit, possibly to inform the development of a
of the ELGPN is not directly visible to citizens, but European Framework for Lifelong Guidance
benefits them through its impact on how national Policies and Systems Development.
lifelong guidance systems are developed.
In developing the 2013–14 ELGPN Work Pro- Based on the ELGPN outcomes and main action
gramme, the working structure of the Network fields of the Europe 2020 Strategy and flagship initia-

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