It is a truism that one cannot see the wood for the trees.  A former leading light in EAEA expressed surprise at the weight of EAEA´s agenda for 2006.  Whereas I was aware of how much still needed to be done, he saw how far EAEA had developed in recent years.  But we cannot be complacent: we still need to measure up to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

After the euphoria of the accession of new member states to the European Union and the European parliamentary election in 2004, the `machine´ restarted and set a new pace for 2005, a year of sobriety.  Our report for 2005 confirms that there has been visible growth, development and achievements in all areas of our work.  The report aims not only to summarise these, but to suggest how we are planning for the future.

Growing concern is being expressed about the failure of the Lisbon Process in our area of interest, education and training development.  These concerns have justified both EAEA´s critique, and the direction taken by our pro-active contributions.  In terms of developing policy for lifelong learning for Europe, we would be better off with not a simple check on progress towards achieving the goals set for 2010, but with a more courageous acceptance of the need for change in both principles and practice.

It is worth taking a more considered view at the end of a year in which the ‘period of reflection´ after the failure of the Dutch and French referendums on the EU Constitution was broken by the voices of the citizens of Birmingham, and Paris and other areas across France. To rebuild the European social model, we will need urgent and determined action as well as thinking about long-term changes. Based on the experience and achievements of 2005, we are deeply convinced that adult learning and the EAEA face serious responsibilities and duties in the years ahead.

Merry Christmad and a Happy New Year!

Jсnos Sz. Tѓth
President, EAEA