On June 18^th, the year 2009 a Recommendation of the European Parliament and the Council on the establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training (EQARF, now EQAVET) has been adopted. Developed by Member States in cooperation with th European Comission, the Reference framework is presented as one of the key elements of in the implementation of guidelines of the Copenhagen Declaration on enhanced European cooperation in VET.
 
EQAVET is a refrence tool for the enhancement of cooperation in VET which describes the quality cicle in VET in four phases (planning, implementation, evaluation and review) and also defines ten quality indicators to be used in support of evaluation and improvement of the VET quality system and/or VET providers. EQAVET represents a systematic approach to modernization of the educational systems, especially through improvement of effectiveness of education, what should be supported by every legislative initiative on VET.
 
EQAVET belongs to a number of European initiatives which promotes mobility – European Qualifications Framework (EQF), European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) and Europass.
 
Methodology within this framework is based on:

• A cycle consisted of four phases (planning, implementation, evaluation and review)
• Quality criteria and indicative criteria for every phase of the cycle
• Common indicators for the evaluation of objectives, methods, procedures and results of training – some of them are based on the statistical data, other ones are of a qualitative nature

European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for VET is designed to encourage improvements in VET system by providing common tools for quality management. Adoption and implementation of the Reference Framework in the participating countries is voluntary.