Transparency instruments - their contribution towards the establishment of a European Education Area

National vocational education and training systems are complex constructs which have arisen within their respective contexts over the course of time. Various objectives and strategies have been pursued since 1957 with the view to creating a pan-European Education Area and labour market. Although the initial goal was the harmonisation of VET systems, greater emphasis has been placed on transparency since the 1990s. The present article briefly traces these developments in order to provide a background against which the most important transparency instruments over a past period of almost 20 years can be identified and reflected upon.