This report is the 2023 edition of the annual cross-country overview of highlights from evidence that the European Training Foundation (ETF) is collecting on trends and developments in education, training and employment across its partner countries in Central Asia, South Eastern Europe and Türkiye (SEET), the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED), and Eastern Partnership (EaP). The report distinguishes itself from prior editions of similar, cross-country reports in two significant ways. Firstly, it is more comprehensive as it incorporates data and insights from the Torino Process -- a hallmark initiative of the ETF that has been regularly evaluating vocational education and training (VET) in ETF partner countries since 2010. The second distinction is the sharpened focus on lifelong learning (LLL) and the extent to which it is available to prospective and actual learners. The structure of this report is organised around thematic areas which capture the typical journey of learners from entry to completion. These areas not only reflect the stages learners go through, but also the overarching policy perspectives and priorities of educational institutions and stakeholders along this journey. The rest of this report is divided accordingly into three chapters: on access to learning, quality and relevance of learning, and system organisation. These chapters are preceded by a chapter discussing the extent to which ETF partner countries are confronted with the challenge of catering to the different needs of different groups of learners -- needs associated with their age, socio-economic disadvantages, educational attainment, and migration status. [Contributions to this report were made by Stefano Lasagni and Stylianos Karagiannis.]