During 1983-87 the Commission of the European Communities helped fund 30 pilot projects that were intended to help young people aged 14-18 make the transition from school to work in 10 member states. The objective of these projects was to use local initiative to identify and develop innovative solutions to the problems facing young people. The priorities for the projects involved development of work experience, promotion of equal opportunities for girls and boys, improvement of information and guidance for the young, staff training, development of new forms of educational assessment, validation and certification, the integration of young immigrants, education for enterprise, prevention of illiteracy and societal rejection, educational motivation, and cooperation at local and regional levels. As the projects evolved, they centered on these aspects: (1) reinforcement of the links between school and the business world; (2) new needs in the area of guidance; (3) the struggle against failure and improvement of the opportunities offered to young people in difficulty; and (4) the improvement of teaching staff. Among the reported recommendations are to open the school to the world of business; to offer coherent and continuous guidance; to fight school failure; to train teachers; to promote equality of opportunity for girls; and to reinforce the support and active participation of parents. (The pilot projects are briefly described in the document.) (CML)