In February 2021, the Council approved the Resolution on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area and beyond (2021-2030). This resolution sets a new EU-level target, i.e. a reference level for European average performance for an expanded age group: the share of 25-34 year-olds with tertiary educational attainment should be at least 45 %, by 2030.

Source: EUROSTAT

It is common practice in EU Directives and in regional assessment methodologies to define environmental objectives (i.e. the target quality, such as GES, to be achieved) in relation to a reference level. For example, target quality levels for contaminants and eutrophication are typically set in relation to 'background' or 'natural' levels in the environment, with target levels set as a specified deviation from these conditions. This philosophy is typical for setting objectives for other pressures, such as litter and noise. For assessing the environmental status of biodiversity components, a similar approach is also used in the WFD and Habitats and Birds Directives, whereby target values are set in relation to natural characteristics, such as the distributional range of a species, the extent of a habitat or the condition of its biological community. This overall philosophy for setting environmental objectives is often termed the 'reference condition and acceptable deviation' approach. This 'deviation' is important, particularly to allow for sustainable uses of the marine environment whereby some levels of pressures and their impacts can be accommodated, provided the overall quality of the environment is maintained.

Source: EURO-Lex

(guidance value) Value, such as concentration in air or water, that is derived after appropriate allocation of the reference dose among the possible media of exposure to assist regulatory authorities in establishing permissible levels of a potential toxicant.

Source: EEA Glossary