Noting that there are 3,500 higher education institutions with 6,500,000 students in the European Community, four major education programs were adopted in 1987-88 by the European Council of the Commission of European Communities: (1) Erasmus, a program for student mobility; (2) Petra, a program on vocational training for young people and preparation for adult working life; (3) Youth for Europe, aimed at promoting youth exchanges within the European Community; and (4) Comett II, cooperation between universities and enterprises for training in new technologies. In addition, a proposal was made for the "Lingua" program, aimed at promoting language teaching and learning. The document contains a brief description of the chief recommendations made by the Council for further developing education. Among the major goals are to reduce unemployment as well as disparities among the least favored regions. A changing economic environment, scientific and technological changes, and identifiable lack of qualified skilled workers for the needs of the 1990s have led to an increased emphasis on the need for an educational strategy of continuing education and training throughout life. (NL)