The purposes of FELA are to:
- contribute to the development of literacy in all its member countries;
- promote and develop empirical and theoretical research in Europe on the learning and teaching of literacy;
- develop education policies and contributie to the implementation of European recommendations concerning literacy and its development;
- promote the exchange of information between member associations of the Federation and other associations throughout the world concerning the learning and teaching of literacy; and
- cooperate with other Federations, Associations and Institutions, both within and beyond Europe, for the improvement of literacy.