The European Health and Fitness Association (EHFA) fully supports the strategic principles and objectives of the European Union Lifelong Learning Programme "to contribute through lifelong learning to the development of the European Union 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".

More particularly EHFA supports the implementation of some key policies from the LLP (as set out in the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training ET 2020):

• making lifelong learning and mobility a reality by implementing lifelong learning strategies, by developing qualifications frameworks and measures to enable more flexible learning pathways, and by promoting learning mobility of all learners, teachers and trainers across Europe, including through the "Youth on the Move” initiative.

• improving the quality and efficiency of education and training by enabling all learners to acquire basic skills and competences needed for their employability, including through the New Skills for New Jobs Initiative, by ensuring high quality teaching and teacher training and by improving attractiveness and efficiency of all levels of education and training,

• promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship by addressing educational disadvantage through high quality early education, more targeted support and inclusive education, and

• enhancing creativity and innovation at all levels of education and training by promoting the acquisition of transversal key competences and by establishing partnerships with the wider world, in particular business, to make education and training institutions more open and relevant to the needs of the labour market and society at large.

EHFA believes, with the Commission, that persistent and efficient investment in human capital through multi-faceted support for education and training in all its guises is fundamental to the future development of the European Union. Investment in education will work in co-ordination with other socio-economic, demographic, environmental and technological challenges because educated and well trained people are in the best position to work together to find innovative solutions to problems and insightful paths to future growth.

Well-educated people are equipped with the knowledge, skills and competences that are crucial for both the labour market and for individuals themselves, provided the education and training is up to date. The Health and fitness sector is well placed to contribute to the aim of increasing levels of physical activity across Europe. Millions of people are becoming healthier through physical activity and EHFA believes that improving the number of well-trained individuals who are qualified in issues such as behaviour change and motivational interviewing will help millions more people adopt a physically active lifestyle.

With its objective to get more people, more active, more often, EHFA is a standards setting body of the health and fitness sector in Europe and promotes best practice in instruction and training.  In addition EHFA and the Standards Council have an active policy of supporting and integrating EU policy directions. These include the development of a fully referenced sector qualification framework with the European Qualification Framework (EQF), and of employing the principles of ECVET and the indicators of EQAVET. The integration of the Bologna Process into the sector framework is viewed as an important competent in ensuring highly skilled occupations are properly recognized and included. EHFA has already proven to be an active stakeholder in education and training in Europe and will continue to be involved in contributing to the shaping the future of education in Europe.

Through the work of its Standards Council EHFA supports the main focus on enhancing the attractiveness, quality and performance of vocational education and training (VET) systems, improving transparency, information and guidance systems, recognition of competences and qualifications and strengthening the European dimension. This is being developed through a sectoral approach.