Abstract
This article considers the impact of European policy making on national education systems. It discusses a selection of recent initiatives taken by the European Union (EU) and the growing emphasis on joint action in the Member States in the field of education. In particular, the article is concerned with the effects that common objectives, benchmarks and quality indicators set for education at EU level have on the education agenda in the Member States. The growing number of international studies comparing education systems and the concern that policy makers have about their country's place in international league tables add to the pressure to conform to goals and standards set at international level. For example, studies such as the Programme for International Student Assessment publish international comparisons and attract significant media attention. This undoubtedly puts pressure on policy makers to make changes at a national level to improve or maintain their international standing. The article considers a number of questions: will these trends in international cooperation and comparison result in a loss of diversity that is evident in the education systems in Europe today? And will they stunt the growth of innovation and creativity within each country and ultimately lead to conformity in education?