The European Training Foundation was established by Council Regulation No. 1360/90 of 7 May 1990 and Council Regulation No. 2063/94 of 27 July 1994 (which amends the original) with the purpose of contributing to the process of vocational education and training reform in Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States and Mongolia (known as the Partner States), and in addition, to provide technical assistance for the implementation of the Tempus Scheme for cooperation between the EU and these countries in the field of higher education.
The Council Regulation was recast as No. 1339 in 2008. The recast regulation specifies the ETF’s role in contributing to human capital development in the context of EU external relations policies.

Decentralised agency of the European Union

Its mission is to help EU neighbouring countries to reform their education and training systems as part of EU external relations policies. By supporting human capital development, the ETF contributes to social and economic development and long-term stability in EU neighbouring countries.