The new Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013 replaces the existing Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci, and eLearning programmes which expire at the end of 2006. It comprises four sectoral programmes on school education (Comenius), higher education (Erasmus), vocational training (Leonardo da Vinci) and adult education (Grundtvig), and is completed by a transversal programme focusing on policy cooperation, languages, information and communication technology and dissemination and exploitation of results. The final element to the new programme is the Jean Monnet action, which focuses on supporting the teaching of European integration as a subject at universities, and supports certain key institutions and associations active in the field.
The programme budget is € 6,970 million for the period 2007-2013.

The aim of the new programme is to contribute, by emphasising the need for lifelong learning, to the development of the Community as an advanced knowledge society, with sustainable economic development, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion. It aims to foster interaction, cooperation and mobility between education and training systems within the Community, so that they become a world quality reference.

As regards the four sectoral programmes, quantified targets have been set in order to ensure a significant, identifiable and measurable impact for the programme. These targets are as follows: for Comenius, for Erasmus, for Leonardo da Vinci, for Grundtvig