An interim-evaluation considered the EU Lifelong Learning Programme (2007-213) as relevant and instrumental in reaching the key "Education and Training" objectives agreed at EU level and thereby contributing to the overarching strategic objectives of the European Union.

Three years after the start of the Lifelong Learning Programme the European Commission decided to launch an interim evaluation, looking at the results achieved and examining the strengths and weaknesses of the entire Programme as well as its separate sub-programmes (Grundtvig, Comenius, Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, Transversal and Jean Monnet). One of the quantified targets set, was the mobility of 7,000 individuals involved in adult education per year by 2013 in the framework of the Grundtvig programme.

 
Effectiveness

The evaluation found that in its first three years of implementation the Lifelong Learning Programme successfully progressed towards its objectives. However, owing to the insufficient size of the budget and other barriers, there is a risk that some of the Programme quantified targets will not be reached. Nevertheless, in particular the implementation of new Grundtvig actions gains momentum and this sectoral programme faces the lowest risk of non-achieving its target.

 
Reaching the target groups

In the period 2007-2009, the Lifelong Learning Programme was responsive to the needs of the beneficiaries and target groups, according to the evaluation. But, with the exception of the Grundtvig programme, the LLP generally could not successfully reach people outside the formal education and training community, such as people in and outside the labour market, early school leavers, and enterprises. Because of that, there is a call for more focus on non-formal and informal learning and access for adult learners, as well as further efforts to identify the needs of these target groups.

 
Insufficient funding for Grundtvig

Although the evaluation findings suggest that the Programme's funds are allocated rather appropriately, there is a consensus that the actions of mobility as well as the Grundtvig programme have insufficient funding (6% of the total budget of 6.97 billion EUR). Therefore the evaluation suggested that in particular the Grundtvig programme could gain a larger financial share, which would allow more attention dedicated to adult education. Additionally, the provision of post-initial or adult learning could be promoted in other sectoral programmes without increasing the financial weight of Grundtvig.

 
Connecting formal, non-formal and informal learning

In general the Programme integration has been quite successful; however, it has become very complex, currently supporting a total of about 60 actions. Also the activities and funding for adult education have so far been widely, but thinly spread between diverse target groups and a large number of issues. Therefore it was suggested to concentrate on a smaller number of challenges as well as on fewer larger cooperations, which can be beneficial for achieving breakthroughs especially in adult education. The future Programme could contain two main types of action: mobility (student/trainee mobility and mobility of staff, future staff and other specialists) and partnerships (bilateral partnership, multi-lateral partnerships, networks, projects).

 
Dissemination and exploitation of results

All stakeholders involved in the Programme implementation agree that the dissemination and exploitation of Programme results is crucial for increasing the effectiveness of the Programme. To encourage this process, an elaborated framework for dissemination and exploitation was put in place, which contributed to greater sustainability of the results, more synergy between the different sub-programmes as well as to improvements in mainstreaming of results or more active adoption of results by other organisations and policy makers. Therefore the provision of further in-depth training on dissemination strategies, stronger guidance on ways to reach key decision-makers; and mainstreaming project partners (horizontal, vertical and transnational) is important in order to streamline and make the exploitation process more effective.

 
The general objective of the Lifelong Learning Programme is "to contribute through lifelong learning to the development of the Community as an advanced knowledge-based society, with sustainable economic development, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, while ensuring good protection of the environment for future generations." This global target is instrumental in achieving the objectives set in the Lisbon Strategy.