Pałka, Renata2015-07-242015-07-242015Studia Edukacyjne, 2015, nr 35, s.149-165.978-83-232-2904-91233-6688http://hdl.handle.net/10593/13808The article presents the evolution of the EU concept of early education and care (in legal, social and financial terms). This concept as presented in the Europe 2020 strategy is not limited to providing the secure environment in the early childhood period. The main focus is on the social importance of an easy access to early education as a necessary precondition of the child’s ability to effectively develop its potential in the future. The article evaluates the progress made by of EU 27 member countries in providing broader access to early education and care. The author points to the importance of proposed changes in the management of the EU economy and finance (the notion of “conditionality” i.e. access to the EU financial resources tied with the level of the countries’ fulfillment of the Europe 2020 strategy benchmarks). The changes should increase the weight attached by the EU member states to the assurance of broader access to early education and care in their National Reform Programs.plinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessearly education and carelifelong learningsocial cohesionNational Reform Programs (NRP), Europe 2020 strategyArtykułhttps://doi.org/10.14746/se.2015.35.8