Brussels, 09/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Community initiative “Erasmus - Young Entrepreneurs” will, from 2012, become a permanent European Union programme, said European Commission Vice-President and Industry and Entrepreneurship Commissioner Antonio Tajani and MEP Maria da Graça Carvalho (EPP, Portugal) at a press conference on the sidelines of the plenary session in Strasbourg. The programme will have its annual budget increased to €7 million in 2012 and €8 million in 2013. At the press conference, Carvalho called for next year's budget line to be increased from €2 million to €3 million. Piloted by the European Union in 2009, Erasmus - Young Entrepreneurs was set up to allow new entrepreneurs to acquire the skills that are essential for the good management of a small or medium-sized business by training alongside an experienced entrepreneur from another member state. Some 2,200 European entrepreneurs have participated hitherto and 1,200 are expected to take part in the scheme in 2011. (I.L./transl.rt)