These EU Guidelines, produced by the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN) provide an agreed reference framework on policies and systems for lifelong guidance across EU Member States. They aim to assist policy makers and policy developers to reflect in a systematic way on existing career guidance services and programmes in their country with a view to improving them for the benefit of citizens. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality and efficacy of the career learning experience of all EU citizens and the consistency of such experience across the education, training, and employment sectors. They also contribute to strengthening the professionalism of career guidance services, tools and products.  They enable Member States to respond coherently to common challenges in education, youth, training, employment and social inclusion policies such as those identified in ET 2020 by facilitating the exchange of learning and experiences and provide a framework for further action on lifelong guidance policy at EU level.

The framework and content of the Guidelines are based on the knowledge and experience of members of the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network in consultation with relevant policy units of DG EAC and DG EMPL, CEDEFOP and ETF, EUPARL, and other European (ETUC, FEDORA/EAIE, European Network of Public Employment Services, Euroguidance) and international organisations (ICCDPP, IAEVG). The Guidelines also draw on knowledge gained from policy studies and reviews of career guidance undertaken by the OECD, The World Bank, UNESCO, ILO and EU agencies such as CEDEFOP, and ETF, and from the experiences of non-EU countries. This tool synthesises the policy development work undertaken by the members of ELGPN in 2007–15.

There are 18 Guidelines divided into the four following categories:

1. Transversal policy components (9 guidelines) e.g. funding, training and qualifications, that apply to all sectors of guidance provision
2. Education and training sector (4 specific guidelines): schools; VET; higher education; adult learning
3. Employment and third age sector (3 specific guidelines): employed; unemployed; older adults
4. Social inclusion sector (2 specific guidelines): young people at risk; disadvantaged groups

Each guideline has four parts:

(i) Definition of the content;

(ii) Why it is important- rationale;

(iii) What is good practice – elements of good policies and systems and

iv) Resources for policy-makers.