Brussels, 02/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, the European Students' Union (ESU) confirms its opposition to slashing the budget for the new Erasmus for All programme (2014-2020). Students have some hope that the €126 million budget needed by the programme this year for it to function as it should and honour all requests will be available, further to the General Affairs Council pledge that talks will be concluded as swiftly as possible on the multiannual financial framework (MFF) and adoption of the correcting budget (see EUROPE 10832). If no immediate solution is found, higher education institutions might react by reducing the number of places offered by the programmes or the level of grants in the academic year 2013/2014, European students have warned. “We think it is of the utmost importance to deal swiftly with all the formalities needed for the budget for this year. The EU has to stand up to its financial obligations. (…) We need a rapid decision-making process and reliable funds for the long term”, said ESU President Karina Ufert.
As far as the MFF 2014-2020 is concerned, the plug could be pulled on 15% of the initial budget proposed if no agreement along these lines is found in Parliament or Council. The European Council on 7 and 8 February had seriously trimmed down the budget proposed for education (€13 billion instead of €15.2 billion). However, the promise made by European ministers (albeit not unanimously) at the General Affairs Council to introduce extra flexibility to the EP gives the students hope. The ESU urges the Parliament and Council to take account of the requests made by European students in their negotiations. (IL/transl.jl)