https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/12/11/erasm...
"Funding for the program will be increased by €26 billion ($31.5 billion). From 2021 to 2027, Erasmus is expected to triple the number of participants to 12 million people, and be significantly more inclusive" shares DW.
The German presidency of the Council and the European Parliament's negotiating team secured a provisional deal on the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2021-2027. The new programme will be much more inclusive than the current one and is expected to triple the number of participants, bringing them up to 12 million people. It will cover not only higher education, but all levels and types of education and training, which is reflected by the kept label "Erasmus+". It will be provided with a substantial budget of EUR 24.57 billion in current prices plus EUR 1.7 billion in 2018 prices, which constitutes a significant increase compared to the amount for the current programme. 83% of the total budget will be allocated to activities in the field of education and training, 10,3% to actions in the area of youth and 1,9% to sport-related activities.
I am very pleased that the German Presidency of the Council and the European Parliament reached a political agreement on the new Erasmus+ programme today. The new, larger programme for the period 2021-2027 focusses on inclusion. It enables us to support new initiatives and attract an even greater number of participants. We want to generate enthusiasm for Europe.
Anja Karliczek, German Federal Minister of Education and Research
For the three action areas - education and training, youth and sport, the main specific objectives of the Erasmus+ programme are the following:
- promote learning mobility of individuals and groups in the field of education and training
- promote non-formal and informal learning mobility and active participation among young people in the field of youth
- promote learning mobility of sport staff
The programme also aims to achieve cooperation, quality, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of education and training, youth and sport. Further to that, Erasmus+ will support teaching, learning, research and debates on European integration matters, including on the Union's future challenges and opportunities through the so-called "Jean Monnet actions".
Erasmus+ 2021-2027 will be much more inclusive by offering access to learners in higher or general education, vocational education or training, adult education, non-formal learning, youth and active participation activities. It will also facilitate the participation of small scale and grassroots organisations, and people with fewer opportunities, including people with disabilities and migrants, as well as EU citizens living in remote areas. The inclusiveness of the programme is also strengthened by the provisions on virtual learning and measures such as language support, preparatory visits, training and virtual cooperation for people who are unable to participate in learning mobility in the field of education and training, youth and sport.
Further to that, DiscoverEU, European Universities and Centres of vocational excellence initiatives are included in the scope of Erasmus+ 2021-2027.
Background and next steps
Erasmus is one of the most popular and successful EU programmes. Launched 30 years ago, it has helped around 10 million people to study, work or volunteer abroad. Under Erasmus more than 2 000 transnational partnerships are established each year.
The Commission presented its proposal for the new Erasmus+ programme on 30 May 2018. On 15 November 2018, the Council adopted its mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament.
The provisional agreement will now be submitted to EU member states' ambassadors for endorsement. The adoption of the Erasmus+ regulation for 2021-2027 will happen at a later stage.
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Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, responsible for Promoting our European Way of Life, commented: "Erasmus is Europe's most emblematic programme, the jewel in our crown. The Erasmus generations represent the essence of our European way of Life. Unity in diversity, solidarity, mobility, support for Europe as an area of peace, freedom and opportunities. With today's agreement, we are ready for the next and bigger Erasmus generations."
Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel said: "I welcome the political agreement on the new Erasmus+ programme. Erasmus+ is one of our flagship programmes. Over the last three decades, participation in Erasmus+ has boosted the personal, social and professional development of over 10 million people, almost half of them between 2014 and 2020. With almost double the budget for the next programming period, we will now work to reach 10 million more over the next seven years."
Erasmus+ is a real European success story, consistently identified as one of the most successful initiatives of the EU. Since its inception in 1987, the programme has expanded considerably. It now covers all education and training sectors ranging from early childhood education and care, and school education to vocational education and training, higher education and adult learning. It supports cooperation on youth policy and promotes participation in sport.
With a dedicated budget of more than €26 billion, made up of €24.5 billion in current prices and an additional top-up of €1.7 billion in 2018 prices, the new programme will not only be more inclusive and innovative but also more digital and greener. It will be key to achieving the European Education Area by 2025 and will mobilise the education, training, youth and sport sectors for swift recovery and future growth. It will provide many new opportunities for Europe's learners. With increased accessibility and more flexible mobility formats, it will provide opportunities to a more diverse group of learners, including those with fewer opportunities and school pupils, who are now included in the mobility action. It will offer new opportunities for cooperation, fostering innovation in curriculum design, learning and teaching practices, and will promote both green and digital skills. It will also support new flagship initiatives, such as European Universities, Erasmus Teacher Academies, Centres of Vocational Excellence and DiscoverEU.
Next steps
On 10 November 2020, a political agreement was reached between the European Parliament, EU Member States in the Council as well as the Commission on the next long-term EU budget and NextGenerationEU. As a next step, the legal adoption of the MFF package along with the ratification of the Own Resources Decision is now urgently needed.
Once adopted, the EU's long-term budget, coupled with the NextGenerationEU initiative, which is a temporary instrument designed to drive the recovery of Europe, will be the largest stimulus package ever financed through the EU budget. A total of €1.8 trillion* will help rebuild a post-COVID-19 Europe. It will be a greener, more digital and more resilient Europe.
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