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This study looks at the progress that has been made towards achieving the goal articulated at the Lisbon Summit, the goal of Europe becoming the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion by 2010. Education and training are considered central to this policy, with access to education and training for all an important aspect. The study reported here was commissioned to report on access to education and training in Europe as relevant to the goals of the Lisbon Summit. The report argues that vigorous action is needed from Member States to achieve the Lisbon goal and targets by 2010. As well, in order to achieve access to education and training for all, changes are needed in a wide range of related policy areas, beyond education, to reflect the fact that available data reveals an important relationship between access and such variables as part-time employment and technological change, collective bargaining, and joint governance of training funds by social partners (in adult education). The main conclusion flowing from the study is that, despite some widespread opinion that public policy has much difficulty in reducing inequalities in access to education, it can make a difference.