Brussels, 14/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - The Erasmus Student Network, AEGEE-Europe, Campus Europae and the Fraternité 2020 citizens' initiative have criticised the European Council's decision to cut funding for the new education and youth programme, “Erasmus for All”, as part of the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework. In a press release on 14 February, they say: “We are were disappointed to see that EU leaders send a signal in these times of economic and social crisis that improving one's skills and employability by spending time in another country and getting to know other Europeans is not of a higher priority”. They point out that European exchange programmes can make an important contribution to helping tackle youth unemployment by giving young people the opportunity to improve their skills through living abroad.
According to Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, in charge of education, youth, culture and multilingualism, the budget proposed by the Council for the new education programme will mean that only 4 million students will be able to receive funding (Erasmus is the most well-known of the European exchange programmes but there are also the European Voluntary Service and Leonardo da Vinci programmes), instead of 5 million (see EUROPE 10785). The student organisations also point out that this will mean 1 million students will be left out, due to the 20% cut in funding. They are therefore calling on the European Parliament to strengthen “Erasmus for All” programme by allocating it at least the same amount as initially planned by the Commission or even exceeding the Commission's proposal, if the majority needed to bring this about can be found. (IL/transl.fl)