As a first step, the upcoming Finnish Presidency distributed a questionnaire in February 2006 to the Directors General of Vocational Training (DGVT) and European social partners. The aim was to seek guidance on the main policy lines to be reflected in the Conclusions and Communiqué.

An initial discussion based on the questionnaire took place in Vienna at the DGVT meeting in March 2006. The summary of the replies was presented to the ETCG meeting in May and to the ACVT meeting in June. The replies to the questionnaire emphasise that the ministerial meeting in Helsinki should issue a clear political message underlining the role VET plays in achieving the Lisbon goals as integral part of the 'Education and Training 2010' work programme. The priorities to be agreed in Helsinki should support the continuation of the process and finalisation of the current work. There should be a limited number of priorities with clear targets for their realisation.

On the basis of the summary and feedback the Finnish Presidency, together with the Commission, prepared a background paper which was discussed at the Education Committee meeting on 17-18 July in Helsinki.

Based on the background paper and guided by the discussion in the Education Committee, draft Council Conclusions on the future priorities for enhanced European cooperation on Vocational Education and Training were prepared for the Education Committee. These draft Conclusions were discussed in the Committee's meetings in September and October.

The Conclusions were adopted in the November Education Council. On the basis of this political mandate, a Helsinki Communiqué was prepared for adoption in the Helsinki Ministerial Meeting.

Whilst the Conclusions were agreed by the Members States, the Communiqué was adopted by a larger group: the Member States, candidate and observer countries and EFTA/EEA countries (32 in all), the European social partners and the European Commission, and it is aimed at wider public.