The development and implementation of ideas of lifelong learning in Europe at the dawn of the 21st century

Aim. The aim of article is present the changing of idea of lifelong learning. The article focuses on the idea of lifelong learning. The first part shows the essence of lifelong learning. An attempt has been made to organise concepts like: lifelong learning, lifelong training, continuing education and permanent education, as well as education and adult education, to consequently educe the idea of lifelong learning from the concept of continuing education. Methods. It’s used  the literature analysis because of the  theoretical character of a paper. Results. In the paper  was presented how idea of lifelong learning was changing in the time. Furthermore, the article shows the social context of the use of lifelong learning in relation to the theory of human capital and social capital theory as well. The next part of the article concentrates on identifying the most important initiatives of the European Union, the objective of which was the implementation of the idea in Europe. The article presents the aims of the EU programmes that are focused on the implementation of that idea in European education. Conclusions. The development of the idea lifelong learning is referring with a social and cultural changes. This idea is a very important part of EU strategy which main gol is to build the Information Society.