Brussels, 28/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - The public hearing on Tuesday 27 March at the European Parliament (EP) education and culture committee on the new European Commission “Erasmus for All” programme revealed clear consensus among experts for retention of independent sectoral programmes with a set, definite budget. The experts agreed that, in view of the success the current programmes have enjoyed, their names must not be abandoned nor their clearly defined framework removed. Committee chairwoman Doris Pack (EPP, Germany) will draft a report on “Erasmus for All”, which will be put to the vote in committee in October of this year.
During the public hearing on the new European programme for education and youth, representatives of national agencies and European organisations European Youth Forum, the Centre for International Mobility (CIMO), the Pädegogoscher Austauschdienst (PAD) and the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst discussed the Commission plans. Targeted programmes tailored to the specific needs of each sector, less red-tape, an appropriate level of funding, management decentralised to national level and particular attention to be paid to initiatives on non-formal education and lifelong learning: these were the main suggestions they put to MEPs. They highlighted the considerable contribution of European programmes to mobility, exchanges, integration and the involvement of young people, students and teachers in Europe. They felt that bringing the various initiatives together in one single programme, “Erasmus for All”, would run the risk of a loss of visibility for these initiatives and complicate the administrative task of managers. Management should be transferred to national agencies, which would improve visibility and increase effectiveness. A clearly defined budget should also be included in the same text as the Commission proposal and greater attention paid to lifelong learning and adult learning, speakers argued.
The fears of the education and youth world chime with those already expressed by several MEPs on the committee in previous debates on the new programme. In their speeches, MEPs repeated their concerns on the usefulness of gathering all the current programmes into one single scheme. They also called on the European Commission to put in place a clear, specific budget line so the programme can run smoothly. Whether or not there should be strands dedicated to youth and to sport was an issue raised by MEPs and backed by the experts present. Pack was pleased to note that there was agreement on most issues and said that this was useful to her as EP rapporteur. A European Commission expert then argued for the proposal by Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, stating that “Erasmus for All” was in no way less ambitious in its aims than the previous programmes, but that it was necessary to adapt to a difficult economic and social situation. The aim of the proposal was to simplify the complexities and current procedures, in order to make life easier for those using the programme, but the proposal had to be presented convincingly for budgetary authorities. There will be discussions at all levels, and the general objectives of the European 2020 strategy, the digital agenda and cooperation programmes will have to be taken into account, he added. The current programmes have been a clear success but they need to change to suit the situation as it is at present and in preparation for future developments, he stated. (IL/transl.rt)