EAEA calls on EU Member States to invest in adult education structures in the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
29.09.2020

Let’s use the Recovery and Resilience Facility for Adult Learning and Education!

EAEA welcomes the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), which was presented on 17 September 2020. The RRF will provide a total of €672.5 billion to support investment and reforms, and one of the flagships is Re- and Upskilling. ‘This is a great opportunity to strengthen and invest in adult learning and education (ALE) in Europe. EAEA calls on the EU Member States to foresee a budget for ALE in their plans,’ says Uwe Gartenschlaeger, President of the EAEA.

Read the EAEA statement here.

EAEA calls on the European Commission to

  • evaluate national reform plans of EU Member States on the basis of their responding to the country-specific recommendations, especially also concerning the promotion of adult learning and education;
  • ensure that key objectives are met during the implementation phase of the programmes;
  • ensure that Member States involve civil society in all phases of the programme design and implementation.

EAEA calls on the EU Member States to

  • ensure that their national reform plans tackle the issues highlighted in the country-specific recommendations of 2019 and 2020, especially the recommendations concerning the promotion of adult learning and education;
  • use this unique opportunity to strengthen national and regional lifelong learning and adult education systems through coherent strategies and investment in the sector;
  • involve civil society in decision-making processes on the national reform plans as well as in the implementation phase of the programmes;
  • adopt a holistic approach to adult learning, in which formal and non-formal learning have their equal place and where “life skills” – including digital skills and sustainability skills/green skills – are central.

EAEA calls on its members to

  • contact their national authorities (ministries or other decision-making bodies) to ensure that they are consulted on the preparation of the national recovery and resilience plans.

Text: EAEAPhotos: EAEA

04.11.2026 adult educators

From Theory to Practice: Testing, Learning and Adapting

Testing learning materials in real-life settings helps us to understand whether they meet learners’ needs, whether the content is relevant and accessible, and whether the intended learning outcomes can be achieved.

29.10.2026 advocacy

Adult Learning at the heart of a resilient, democratic and competitive Europe

Joint statement by the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) and AONTAS, The National Adult Learning Organisation, in the context of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and at the dawn of a new Europe.

26.10.2026 adult educators

From Technology to Learning: 8 insights for a more inclusive adult education 

Technology is becoming increasingly essential in learning. If we want this learning to remain meaningful and inclusive, we need to consider the needs of vulnerable learners, educators, and the organisations that support them.

20.10.2026 inclusion

How to ensure quality in adult education bypassing the bureaucratic approach?

The Q-ALE Model final version is now available for all adult education organisations to use and adapt. Developed by an international partnership, the approach aims at fostering a true culture of quality across the sector.