In November 2005, the Commission presented a "Proposal for a Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on key competences for lifelong learning". The Parliament adopted this proposal on 26 September 2006 urging Member States to implement national strategies.
This recommendation was the result of a progressive emergence of priority given to ‘basic skills for all' as a key element of the lifelong learning strategy. It was prepared by a Working Group (Working Group B) and its two reports in February 2002 and November 2004. The objective of this recommendation was to provide a common European reference framework on key competences to ensure that education and training systems "offer all young people the means to develop key competences to a level that equips them for further learning and adult life" and provide coherent and comprehensive lifelong learning for adults making them "able to develop and update their key competences".
The framework identifies 8 key competences: