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Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the detailed and useful information contained in the Government’s report for the period June 1998-May 2003 prepared by the Ministry of Employment and Labour and the Ministry of Education. During the period under consideration, the percentage of skilled workforce rose, unemployment dropped and economic activity grew. The Government indicates that, whilst early in the 1990s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) catered for the practical training of one-quarter of the work-experience needs of trainees, by the end of that decade, SMEs had become involved in the practical training of over one-third of all trainees. Financial assistance from the European Union has contributed to the overall development of vocational training, career selection and career orientation. The competence of the National Vocational Training Council was extended in 2001. The National Adult Training Council was established in 2002 functioning as a national body preparing decisions, giving opinions and making proposals, supporting the Ministry of Employment and Labour in performing its tasks related to adult education. The Committee would like to receive updated information in future reports on the measures taken to fulfil the objectives of the Convention, including data concerning education and training policies targeted at people with special needs such as women, youth and the Roma community (please refer to the recent Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004 (No. 195)).