Erasmus+ Coalition - Common demands for the upcoming iteration of the Erasmus+ Programme

In the 2018 Standard Eurobarometer 90, Europeans ranked the Erasmus+ Programme as the 4th greatest achievement of the EU, just behind free movement, peace and the euro. The high appreciation is reflected in the growing participation in the programme. In 2024, the EU reached 16.5 million Europeans benefitting from the programme, a doubling participation since 2014. However, this is still miles away from the citizens’ demands during the Conference on the Future of Europe, where they demanded universal access to the Erasmus+ programme.

The programme has gradually expanded beyond learning mobility, starting with previous iterations, though learning mobility still accounts for 70% of its budget. Nevertheless, the 30% focused on cooperation and policy has yielded initiatives tackling urgent challenges for our sector, such as the Erasmus Teacher Academies, European University Alliances, the EU Youth Strategy or Centres for Vocational Excellence to name a few. Erasmus+ is more than a mobility scheme, it is a catalyst for European cooperation. Its capacity to support education policy reforms must be fully leveraged to address long-standing and deep-rooted challenges across Member States. In this regard it is also crucial to acknowledge the importance of EU-wide civil society networks supporting coordination across all beneficiaries of the programme in this context.

Europe is reconsidering its own political, social, environmental and economic vision for a future in which it boosts its stature. The democratic resilience of the EU, its preparedness for any upcoming crisis and its competitiveness are key elements to be addressed for the long-term future of the EU project. All of them crucially hinge on Europeans with the right competences and with access to lifelong learning. While their commitment to the EU project has been effectively strengthened year by year by means of Erasmus+ projects and initiatives. The programme is one of the most effective tools for promoting cohesion and solidarity, nurturing a shared European identity, while bringing people together to advance equality, inclusion and the twin transition.

Read the full statement here