Hosted under the Croatian and the German Presidencies of the EU in cooperation with the European Commission, the joint online Cedefop-ETF conference, on 30 June and 1 July, will review the achievements in European cooperation in vocational education and training (VET) between 2015 and 20.

Here is the first issue of the Céreq International Mission's publication In and Around. Since 1971, the Céreq has produced studies and research to help professionals, decision-makers, social partners, and, more broadly, all those involved in training, work, and employment.

The Céreq is a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry responsible for Education and the Ministry responsible for Labour and Employment in France.

We live in unprecedented times. COVID-19 has shut down large sectors of the economy, as well as entire education systems. Estimates from UNESCO show that around 90% of the world’s students are currently out of school. Like many of you, we are working from home, drafting this editorial from our home offices under shelter-in-place orders.

The Corona crisis must be dealt with now, its economic fall-out must be forecast now, and the recovery must be planned for and supported now. Because of its pivotal role in the fields of labour market, vocational training and skills intelligence, Cedefop will have to deliver critical contributions to the post-coronavirus recovery efforts of the European Union – starting now.