Brussels, 27/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on 21 February, the French Socialist MEP Isabelle Thomas hosted a working meeting on the new “Erasmus for all” programme, whilst negotiations have started within the trialogue. The question of student loans is still the source of just as many concerns on the part of France. The European Commission must not push young people into debt and into a difficult financial situation, the MEP states, continuing: “even though the amounts in question are not the same as in the United States, where student loans are becoming more and more of a 'sub-prime'-type threat to the economy, this reform could be the first step on a very dangerous path”, she argued. This view is, of course, shared by student organisations, despite attempts by the Commission to reassure them. Taina Moisander, vice-president of the European Students' Union (ESU), strongly disapproves of the measure, stressing that, “in the context of crisis and youth unemployment, the consequences of getting into debt would be even more dramatic”. The representative of the UNEF (national students' union of France), Abib Gnignier pointed out that “students don't want loans, they want bursaries!” Matteo Giacomini, the representative of the Italian students' union, observed that “in Italy, the banks are already unable to pay back their debts, how on earth could students?” In conclusion, Isabelle Thomas stressed another negative aspect, that Erasmus could become a programme for rich students alone, because, she argues, getting rid of bursaries in favour of loans runs the risk of discouraging students from poorer backgrounds from going to study abroad. “It is the European Union's responsibility to give young people prospects other than getting into debt before they even join the employment market”, the MEP concluded. (IL/transl.fl)