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53 The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) is a common European reference framework whose purpose is to make qualifications more readable and understandable across different countries and systems. Covering qualifications at all levels and in all sub-systems of education and training, the EQF provides a comprehensive overview of qualifications in the 39 European countries currently involved in its implementation. In close cooperation with the European Commission, Cedefop provides analytical and coordination support for the performance of the EQF and carries out several comparative studies and analysis on issues related to the implementation of the framework at EU, national and sectoral level. European Qualifications Framework - a bridge between national qualifications systems The core of the EQF is its eight reference levels defined in terms of learning outcomes, i.e., knowledge, skills and autonomy-responsibility. Learning outcomes express what individuals know, understand, and can do at the end of a learning process. Countries develop national qualifications frameworks (NQFs) to implement the EQF. Why the EQF is important The primary purpose of the EQF is to make qualifications more readable and understandable across countries and systems. This is important to support the cross-border mobility of learners and workers and lifelong learning across Europe. In the 'Find and Compare Qualifications Frameworks' webpage it is possible to see how national qualifications levels of countries that have already finalised their referencing process have been linked to the EQF (CEDEFOP, 2020). Follow your National Qualification Framework (NQF) The EQF has been the catalyst for the development of comprehensive national qualification frameworks based on learning outcomes. All countries committed to the EQF consider such national frameworks necessary to make their qualifications comparable across sectors and countries. By April 2018, 35 countries had formally linked ('referenced') their national qualifications frameworks to the EQF: Austria, Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Wales). The remaining countries are expected to follow in 2018, which means that the first stage of EQF referencing is nearly finished (CEDEFOP, 2019).