01/02/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 31 January, the European Commission presented its mid-term review of the implementation of the Erasmus + programme. This programme has a budget of more than €14 billion and provides financial support to a wide range of actions and activities in the education, training, youth and sporting area over the 2014-20 period. The European Commissioner responsible for this portfolio, Tibor Navracsics, explained, “This very encouraging evaluation clearly confirms what a success story Erasmus + is". He also stated that it “demonstrates that we need to increase the funding for this programme in the next financing period”. On Thursday 15 February, European education ministers will examine the results and future of the Erasmus + programme on the basis of a specific report from the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council (see EUROPE 11947). (MB)