The development of Qualifications Frameworks has been a major international trend in reforming national education and training
systems since the late 1990s. The initiative first started among English-speaking developed countries. Since the late 1990s such
frameworks have also been adopted by non-English-speaking and developing countries. In March 2005, following work
undertaken by the European Commission, the Europe Union Heads of Government requested the development of a European
Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning. It is planned that the countries within the European Union, and other states,
align their national frameworks of qualifications with the European Qualifications Framework by 2012. Republic of Macedonia
joined the process and from May 2009 started with designing and implementation of National Qualifications Framework.