The Resolution of the EU Council of Ministers (2008) on better integrating lifelong guidance into lifelong learning strategies prioritised the development of the quality assurance of guidance provision for the implementation of an active guidance policy within national lifelong learning strategies. It also asked Member States and the Commission to consider whether more evidence-based policy should be developed at EU level. It assigned these tasks the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN).

In the course of its lifetime, ELGPN developed a process and methodology to address those issues and these are summarised in this ELGPN Tool No. 5.

The tool addresses five key elements:

• practitioner competence
• citizen/user involvement
• service design and improvement
• cost benefits to governments
• cost benefits to individuals.