This report presents the results of a research development project to establish a suitable structural framework for the development of a European policy in the field of adult language learning. The report is divided into six sections: (1) the introduction in which the purpose of the work and the operative questions are discussed; (2) a discussion of learning by units based on systems analysis and related to the communicative goals of the learner; (3) an analysis of the nature of units, the process whereby they are constructed, and the operational objectives determined by the needs of individuals and the needs of society; (4) presentation of a framework for a unit/credit system to facilitate cooperation among institutions and coordination of language teaching activities; (5) a discussion of the organization of a European unit/credit system for adult language learning; and (6) a presentation of the conclusions of the research project and prospects for implementation. There are five appendices which provide: (1) a classical definition of levels of language skills; (2) a reproduction of the IBM Foreign Language Level Rationale and Performance chart; (3) a proposal for level definitions; (4) a chart of the Ford Koln English language training scheme; and (5) a bibliography. (AMH)