Key competences, such as "combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes", are indicated by the Recommendation of the Council of the European Union of 22 May 2018[1] as internal conditions that allow people to achieve personal, occupational and social fulfillment in a world in constant change.

The eight key skills - three referring to basic knowledge and five transversal, including digital competence - indicated in the 2006 Recommendation[2] and redefined in the subsequent 2018 Recommendation, allow us to deal with situations and needs linked to the evolution of society, from a lifelong learning perspective. The identification of these skills arises from the European recognition of everyone's right to education, training and lifelong learning, and from the need to make a tool available to Member States to build "more equal and democratic" societies.

The development of key skills enables individuals to understand topics, apply knowledge to achieve results and act or react when dealing with unfamiliar situations. As a basis for lifelong learning, they must be developed from childhood, in educational contexts that put the person at the centre: hence the Recommendation's invitation to member countries to improve the quality of education and training provision.