Adult education became an element in the educational programmes and policy coordination of the EU relatively late. From 2000, however, the Lisbon process and the Lifelong Learning programme have made it much more important. The responsibility for policy development/coordination as well as implementing programmes in the field of adult education is located in the Commission’s DG Education and Culture. However, other sections of the Commission also develop policies and fund activities involving adult learning; most prominently the Directorate of Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and its Social Fund, but also other directorates, for instance Regional Policy. The Lisbon and EU 2020 processes have involved attempts to streamline the work of these agencies in the field of education. In this paper I will discuss how the different Commission directorates contribute to a trans-national European adult education policy, and whether their respective contributions reflect common or diverse understandings and priorities. I will draw on existing research and key Commission documents.