In June 1993, the European Commission adopted a recommendation on access to continuing vocational training (CVT) in the European Union (EU). EU member states' progress was assessed by reviewing national reports drafted in accordance with an agreed-upon structure. The national reports demonstrated a wide range of new approaches and initiatives for promoting access to CVT, in terms of both member states' public policies and the social partners' or corporate policies. According to a 1993 survey, national rates of access to CVT ranged from 13% (in Portugal and Greece) to 43% (in Ireland). Important disparities between sectors were also found. After assessing progress toward improving access to CVT within the context of the various economic, demographic, and social developments that have occurred in Europe since 1993, the commission council issued nine action proposals, including the following: establish common conditions for facilitating access to CVT at the EC level and at the sectoral level; make CVT access reports a regular feature and simultaneously refine them to ensure that national reports and social partners' reports are uniformly drawn on common criteria; and present a plan for action on CVT training in an information society. (The text of the 1993 recommendation is appended.) (MN)