Cedefop, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, has challenged the European Parliament to make skills training a greater priority. Cedefop is the EU's agency responsible for information and analyses on vocational education and training systems, policy and development throughout Europe.

Cedefop Director Johan van Rens said: "Imagine a situation in which the equivalent of the population of France was declared low-skilled. Imagine also a situation in which some of the countries currently seeking entry to the EU were found to have better average levels of education than the Member States. This is not imagination - this is fact in the EU today."

Mr van Rens also said that plans for a Europe that is prosperous, competitive and socially equitable will fail if the people of Europe are incapable of accepting the challenges and new demands of work: "The fact is that some 34% of 25-59 year olds across Europe are categorised as low skilled - the equivalent of the entire population of France. Since lower skilled people receive less training than others, this situation will not change without direct action. Learning is essential to Europe's future and the EU needs to be an active force in ensuring that education and training keep pace with needs."