Society is undergoing profound transformations: movement toward a knowledge society, globalization, new patterns of work, unemployment and social exclusion, aging of the population, immigration, transformation of the family, a multimedia revolution, and consumerism. These changes are necessitating better, more balanced education and lifelong learning. More open educational systems and better partnerships between key actors are needed. The quality of European education is being challenged. Although education as such cannot solve all the problems resulting from the many social and economic changes now occurring, it is a necessary condition to adapting society to those changes. The transformation of European education systems will not take place without a shared vision acknowledging human development as the primary purpose of education. Europeans must learn democratic values and realize that they are citizens of Europe and a global planet. Education must be made an open, interconnected chain of learning opportunities available to people from cradle to grave. Europe must make education a political priority. The following strategies for strengthening the educational chain must be adopted: invigorating preschool; upgrading basic school education; modernizing vocational education; opening up tertiary education; and launching a European strategy for adult education. (175 footnotes) (MN)