Strengthening Adult Learning Across Europe: Reflections from the NEAAL 2024–2025 Final Meeting
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Published on
December 15, 2025
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On November 14th, our Head of Advocacy and Policy, Conor Thompson, and EU Projects Coordinator, Larisa Sioneriu, attended the final meeting of the National Coordinators for the New European Agenda for Adult Learning (NEAAL) 2024–2025.
The meeting took place at the European Commission in Brussels, where representatives from all EU Member States involved in NEAAL implementation gathered.
NEAAL is a European Commission initiative designed to promote and strengthen adult education and lifelong learning across Europe. Each country designates a National Coordinator – typically a government department or state agency – to deliver a two-year national plan, renewed biennially.
In Ireland, AONTAS has served as the National Coordinator since 2014, following our appointment by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The final 2024–2025 NEAAL meeting in Brussels included presentations from European Commission representatives, updates from NEAAL National Coordinators, and rich discussions between Coordinators and the Commission. The meeting concluded with a heartfelt celebration of the retirement of the Slovenian National Coordinator, Zvonka Pangerc Pahernik, who has been a leading reference point for adult education not only in Slovenia but across Europe.
Reflections on NEAAL from Zvonka Pangerc Pahernik
Since 1997, Zvonka served as Head of the Promotion and Information Unit at the Slovenian Institute for Adult Education, establishing and driving numerous adult learning initiatives within Slovenia and across Europe. She also contributed to the expert group of the Slovenian EU Presidency that prepared the New European Agenda for Adult Learning.
Zvonka told AONTAS:
“We pushed for a truly holistic understanding of adult learning and education, and I am proud that this perspective is now firmly embedded in the NEAAL.”
We asked her to reflect further on the importance of NEAAL, and she shared the following:
“The implementation of (N)EAAL has been crucial because it provides both financial and moral support from the European Commission for nationally important activities that could not be funded through the state budget or other sources. It also strengthens the connection to European priorities, themes, and policy developments. Just as importantly, it fosters European cooperation, exchange, and mutual learning across countries.
Across my 13 years of involvement, I have valued the opportunity to meet committed colleagues from across Europe and to contribute to work that has a lasting impact—through events, study visits, and the creation of videos and other resources that continue to inspire.
My wish for the future of adult education is, in fact, an invitation: let us create spaces and opportunities where everyone in the adult learning community—learners, practitioners, professionals, policymakers, researchers, and even the media—can meet, talk, and co-create. Dialogue and interaction remain the most powerful forces for shaping a vibrant and inclusive adult learning culture across Europe.”
NEAAL and Ireland
The 2024–2025 NEAAL project in Ireland is entitled ‘Building Stable Roots for a Sustainable Learning Ecosystem’. Its main objective has been to strengthen and empower the learning ecosystem for learners, organisations, and the community education sector in Ireland.
Our work has focused on empowering learners, building the capacity of community education practitioners, raising awareness of the green and digital transitions, enhancing the visibility and standing of the community education sector, and promoting the principle that learning can happen anywhere. This work has been achieved through a wide range of initiatives, including:
- National Campaigns
- Policy Submissions
- Learners as Leaders
- AONTAS on the Road
- Learner Voice Project
- Greener Tomorrow Through Community Education
- Project Advisory Group
- EU-Themed Events
- EU Peer Learning Activities
- Hosting Visit Groups
- Ongoing Communication and Dissemination
- The Adult Education Summit
You can find more about the project here.
NEAAL 2024-2025 National Coordinators Final Meeting in Brussels
Reflecting on the meeting in Brussels, and on NEAAL in Ireland, Conor Thompson, Head of Advocacy and Policy, said: ‘Adult education is essential to building a more equitable and inclusive Europe- this is a shared belief across the NEAAL National Coordinators group. It is always fascinating to meet with colleagues and hear about the success and challenges that have in their countries. This exchange of ideas and stories is why the NEAAL programme works so well.’
Updates were provided by the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) and the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC). Speakers included Ann Branch, Head of Unit for the Union of Skills; Kristine Krivmane, Team Leader for the Union of Skills; and Florin Popa, Policy Officer for Adult Education and Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships.
Highlights from these presentations included a range of initiatives and strategies developed under the four strands of the Union of Skills. These include the Action Plan on Basic Skills, the AI in Education initiative, the European Strategy for Vocational Education and Training, and the Basic Skills Support Scheme.
Key proposed future actions include the implementation of Individual Learning Accounts, piloting a Skills Guarantee for workers, expanding the use of micro-credentials, developing a common European framework for the automatic recognition of study qualifications and learning periods abroad in schools, VET and higher education, and the launch of the EU Talent Pool IT Platform.
The overarching message was that skills are an investment, not a cost—and that achieving this vision requires significant and more effective funding for skills and education, alongside mobilising both public and private investment.
More on AONTAS’ position regarding the Union of Skills, including reflections on the European Year of Skills that preceded this strategy, can be accessed through the embedded links.
The Commission also provided updates on the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2027 onwards. Notably, the Erasmus+ budget is proposed to increase from €26 billion to €40.8 billion, following its merger with the European Solidarity Corps. This expanded budget will enhance mobility opportunities across the programme.
For a detailed analysis of the MFF proposal, see the statement from our colleagues at the European Association for the Education of Adults.
We also heard inspiring presentations from the National Coordinators of Slovenia and Germany, speaking on behalf of the EU NEAAL Cluster “Innovative Learning Environments Supporting Adults’ Basic Skills”, of which AONTAS is a partner. They shared examples from their national projects illustrating how policy and practice can be successfully bridged, demonstrating creativity and innovation in adult learning.
One example was Slovenia’s Forest Libraries initiative, which aims to promote a reading culture and raise awareness of the importance of literacy. The project created free libraries located within forest areas—inviting people to read in nature while enjoying the wellbeing benefits of outdoor environments.
The meeting then continued with reflections and lessons learned from all participating countries, with National Coordinators sharing insights into the state of adult education in their respective contexts. The discussions, chaired by Andrea Diana Spiridon of Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation and advancing adult education priorities across Member States.
As the 2024–2025 iteration of NEAAL draws to a close, we are now consolidating our achievements, evaluating the impact of our activities, and preparing the groundwork for continued progress as we enter the next phase of NEAAL.
Interested?
For more information or any queries, please contact Larisa at lsioneriu@aontas.com
This post is part of the “Building Stable Roots in a Sustainable Learning Ecosystem” project, funded by the New European Agenda for Adult Learning (NEAAL).
This project is funded through the New European Agenda for Adult Learning (NEAAL)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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Strengthening Adult Learning Across Europe: Reflections from the NEAAL 2024–2025 Final Meeting
Written by
Published on
December 15, 2025
Share This
On November 14th, our Head of Advocacy and Policy, Conor Thompson, and EU Projects Coordinator, Larisa Sioneriu, attended the final meeting of the National Coordinators for the New European Agenda for Adult Learning (NEAAL) 2024–2025.
The meeting took place at the European Commission in Brussels, where representatives from all EU Member States involved in NEAAL implementation gathered.
NEAAL is a European Commission initiative designed to promote and strengthen adult education and lifelong learning across Europe. Each country designates a National Coordinator – typically a government department or state agency – to deliver a two-year national plan, renewed biennially.
In Ireland, AONTAS has served as the National Coordinator since 2014, following our appointment by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The final 2024–2025 NEAAL meeting in Brussels included presentations from European Commission representatives, updates from NEAAL National Coordinators, and rich discussions between Coordinators and the Commission. The meeting concluded with a heartfelt celebration of the retirement of the Slovenian National Coordinator, Zvonka Pangerc Pahernik, who has been a leading reference point for adult education not only in Slovenia but across Europe.
Reflections on NEAAL from Zvonka Pangerc Pahernik
Since 1997, Zvonka served as Head of the Promotion and Information Unit at the Slovenian Institute for Adult Education, establishing and driving numerous adult learning initiatives within Slovenia and across Europe. She also contributed to the expert group of the Slovenian EU Presidency that prepared the New European Agenda for Adult Learning.
Zvonka told AONTAS:
“We pushed for a truly holistic understanding of adult learning and education, and I am proud that this perspective is now firmly embedded in the NEAAL.”
We asked her to reflect further on the importance of NEAAL, and she shared the following:
“The implementation of (N)EAAL has been crucial because it provides both financial and moral support from the European Commission for nationally important activities that could not be funded through the state budget or other sources. It also strengthens the connection to European priorities, themes, and policy developments. Just as importantly, it fosters European cooperation, exchange, and mutual learning across countries.
Across my 13 years of involvement, I have valued the opportunity to meet committed colleagues from across Europe and to contribute to work that has a lasting impact—through events, study visits, and the creation of videos and other resources that continue to inspire.
My wish for the future of adult education is, in fact, an invitation: let us create spaces and opportunities where everyone in the adult learning community—learners, practitioners, professionals, policymakers, researchers, and even the media—can meet, talk, and co-create. Dialogue and interaction remain the most powerful forces for shaping a vibrant and inclusive adult learning culture across Europe.”
NEAAL and Ireland
The 2024–2025 NEAAL project in Ireland is entitled ‘Building Stable Roots for a Sustainable Learning Ecosystem’. Its main objective has been to strengthen and empower the learning ecosystem for learners, organisations, and the community education sector in Ireland.
Our work has focused on empowering learners, building the capacity of community education practitioners, raising awareness of the green and digital transitions, enhancing the visibility and standing of the community education sector, and promoting the principle that learning can happen anywhere. This work has been achieved through a wide range of initiatives, including:
- National Campaigns
- Policy Submissions
- Learners as Leaders
- AONTAS on the Road
- Learner Voice Project
- Greener Tomorrow Through Community Education
- Project Advisory Group
- EU-Themed Events
- EU Peer Learning Activities
- Hosting Visit Groups
- Ongoing Communication and Dissemination
- The Adult Education Summit
You can find more about the project here.
NEAAL 2024-2025 National Coordinators Final Meeting in Brussels
Reflecting on the meeting in Brussels, and on NEAAL in Ireland, Conor Thompson, Head of Advocacy and Policy, said: ‘Adult education is essential to building a more equitable and inclusive Europe- this is a shared belief across the NEAAL National Coordinators group. It is always fascinating to meet with colleagues and hear about the success and challenges that have in their countries. This exchange of ideas and stories is why the NEAAL programme works so well.’
Updates were provided by the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) and the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC). Speakers included Ann Branch, Head of Unit for the Union of Skills; Kristine Krivmane, Team Leader for the Union of Skills; and Florin Popa, Policy Officer for Adult Education and Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships.
Highlights from these presentations included a range of initiatives and strategies developed under the four strands of the Union of Skills. These include the Action Plan on Basic Skills, the AI in Education initiative, the European Strategy for Vocational Education and Training, and the Basic Skills Support Scheme.
Key proposed future actions include the implementation of Individual Learning Accounts, piloting a Skills Guarantee for workers, expanding the use of micro-credentials, developing a common European framework for the automatic recognition of study qualifications and learning periods abroad in schools, VET and higher education, and the launch of the EU Talent Pool IT Platform.
The overarching message was that skills are an investment, not a cost—and that achieving this vision requires significant and more effective funding for skills and education, alongside mobilising both public and private investment.
More on AONTAS’ position regarding the Union of Skills, including reflections on the European Year of Skills that preceded this strategy, can be accessed through the embedded links.
The Commission also provided updates on the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2027 onwards. Notably, the Erasmus+ budget is proposed to increase from €26 billion to €40.8 billion, following its merger with the European Solidarity Corps. This expanded budget will enhance mobility opportunities across the programme.
For a detailed analysis of the MFF proposal, see the statement from our colleagues at the European Association for the Education of Adults.
We also heard inspiring presentations from the National Coordinators of Slovenia and Germany, speaking on behalf of the EU NEAAL Cluster “Innovative Learning Environments Supporting Adults’ Basic Skills”, of which AONTAS is a partner. They shared examples from their national projects illustrating how policy and practice can be successfully bridged, demonstrating creativity and innovation in adult learning.
One example was Slovenia’s Forest Libraries initiative, which aims to promote a reading culture and raise awareness of the importance of literacy. The project created free libraries located within forest areas—inviting people to read in nature while enjoying the wellbeing benefits of outdoor environments.
The meeting then continued with reflections and lessons learned from all participating countries, with National Coordinators sharing insights into the state of adult education in their respective contexts. The discussions, chaired by Andrea Diana Spiridon of Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation and advancing adult education priorities across Member States.
As the 2024–2025 iteration of NEAAL draws to a close, we are now consolidating our achievements, evaluating the impact of our activities, and preparing the groundwork for continued progress as we enter the next phase of NEAAL.
Interested?
For more information or any queries, please contact Larisa at lsioneriu@aontas.com
This post is part of the “Building Stable Roots in a Sustainable Learning Ecosystem” project, funded by the New European Agenda for Adult Learning (NEAAL).
This project is funded through the New European Agenda for Adult Learning (NEAAL)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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