The European Parliament is expected to vote on Thursday 28 March on the tripling of Erasmus funds for the period 2021-2027, as suggested by the responsible parliamentary committee, the Culture and Education Committee (see EUROPE 12198/27). A debate will precede the vote.
Once adopted, this resolution will mark the European Parliament's position in the negotiations with the Council of the EU on the future of this programme in the multiannual financial framework.
Triple the funds, instead of doubling them
The draft report prepared by Milan Zver (EPP, Slovenia) calls for 46.7 billion euros to be mobilised for this programme, compared with the 30 billion proposed by the Commission and supported by the Council of the EU (see EUROPE 12030/16). It also introduces a distribution key for the three action areas of the programme, which is close to that adopted by the Member States (see EUROPE 12143/20), namely: 83% for education and training, 10.3% for youth, 2% for sport and 3.2% to cover operational costs.
Expand the target audience
The draft report extends the definition of 'higher education students' and 'vocational education and training learners' to include anyone who has graduated from such an institution “within the previous 24 months”. It also refers to the DiscoverEU programme by stating that “young people aged 18 to 20”, especially those with fewer opportunities, should have the opportunity to have their first individual or group experience in the short term and to travel throughout Europe.
The draft report also calls on the European Commission to develop, by 31 December 2021 at the latest, a European student card for all students participating in the programme and to make it available to all students in the Union by 31 December 2025 at the latest. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)