About us

European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network, ELGPN

In 2007-2015 The European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network, ELGPN assisted the European Union (EU) Member States (and the neighbouring countries eligible for the EU Erasmus+ Programme) and the European Commission in developing European co-operation on lifelong guidance in both the education and the employment sectors. It promoted co-operation at Member State level in implementing the priorities identified in the EU Resolutions on Lifelong Guidance (2004; 2008). The network was established by the Member States; the Commission supported its activities under the Erasmus+ in 2015.

The ELGPN represented a major development in support of national lifelong guidance policy development in Europe. As a Member-State-driven network, it also represented an innovative form of the Open Method of Co-ordination within the EU. The participating countries designated their representatives in the network, and were encouraged to include both governmental and non-governmental representatives.

In 2015 the ELGPN consisted of 30 member countries (AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, EL, ES, FI, FR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LV, LT, LU, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SK, Sl) and Switzerland as an observer. Through appropriate liaison arrangements, the network ensured regular contact with other relevant bodies and networks at national, European and international levels

The first six years of ELGPN (2007-12) created active collaboration between relevant governmental and non-governmental bodies across ELGPN member countries and other relevant networks, as well as with the relevant units of DG EAC and DG EMPL, in support of the development and implementation of European LLG systems and policies and of related economic, social and political goals. That continued in 2013-14, including seeking closer links with Cedefop, ETF, Euroguidance and the European Network of Public Employment Services (PES), as well as with the reformed EURES. The fourth phase of the ELGPN Work Programme (2013-14) was designed to build on the experience and development of the first three phases and to improve the internal efficiency of the work of the ELGPN itself.

The ELGPN 2015 Work Programme continued the process of supporting ELGPN members in their national lifelong guidance activities, policies, strategies and services, related to needs and demands on educational, economic, employment and social inclusion issues. To read more about the ELGPN Work Programme 2015.

Milestones of the ELGPN

  • In 2002, the European Commission created an Expert Group on lifelong guidance.
  • At the end of 2005, the Commission initiated a discussion with its Expert Group for Lifelong Guidance on Member-State-driven European Network as a suitable mechanism to take forward work on guidance at EU level.
  • On November 2006, during Finnish EU Presidency Conference on Lifelong Guidance Policies and Systems, first exchange of views on the future mandate took place and the participating Member States expressed their interest to set up a network of interested countries
  • On March 2007 the Commission invited representatives of the countries eligible for assistance under the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-13 for a preparatory meeting to explore the potential for the Network.
  • On May 2007, the inaugural meeting of the ELGPN agreed to establish a European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network and expressed their willingness to participate in the network as members or observers.
  • The inaugural meeting of the ELGPN agreed the underlying principles of the ELGPN.
  • The role of the ELGPN was strengthened and described in more detail in the EU Council Resolution on ‘Better Integrating Lifelong Guidance into Lifelong Learning Strategies’ passed in 2008 under the French EU Presidency.
  • As an outcome of the 2007-15 Work Programmes the ELGPN developed a comprehensive range of EU reference tools and publications for European lifelong guidance policy and systems developments at EU and national levels.