As in every European election, European political parties devote part of their programme to young people who represent a potential vote on which to build. They support access to quality education and give pride of place to lifelong learning. They also support exchange programmes such as Erasmus.
Broadly speaking, all parties support lifelong learning, unanimously recognising its added value. While the European People's Party (EPP) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) believe that education should be geared towards labour market needs, the European Left Party (ELP) opposes “standardised tests, used on the pretext of objectivity and impartiality, are reductive and favour basic knowledge useful only in the labour market”.
Strengthening the Erasmus programme. Europe's competences in the field of education are limited, as it should only complement the action of the Member States.
European parties focus on exchange programmes. The most ambitious proposal undoubtedly comes from the European Green Party (EGP), which calls for a “tenfold” increase in European funding for exchange programmes such as the Erasmus programme.
This proposal is in the process of being negotiated on the next multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027. Between 2014 and 2020, the budget for Erasmus+, the EU's flagship programme for education, training, youth and sport, was set at €14.7 billion. In May 2018, the European Commission, with the support of the Member States, proposed to double this budget to €30 billion, reaching 12 million beneficiaries. The European Parliament calls for a tripling of the Erasmus budget (see EUROPE 12224/13).
The EPP and ALDE also call for the Erasmus programme to be expanded. The Liberals talk about “broader” participation, without further clarifying this idea. Christian Democrats talk about opening Erasmus to all, especially non-university students. “The Erasmus programme has been a great success that we can replicate in other areas, such as continuing education and schools”, says their election platform. This statement is ambiguous, as the current Erasmus+ programme already targets apprentices and people undergoing vocational training.
European guarantee for children. But the European parties' proposals for young people are not limited to the Erasmus programme. The Party of European Socialists (PES) calls for an increase in the scope of the Youth Guarantee, which already helps millions of young Europeans to access quality jobs and internships or additional training. It also calls for a “European guarantee for children” through which every child would have access to quality healthcare, childcare, education, housing and food.
The EGP and the EPP also mention access to culture, suggesting the creation of European culture vouchers. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)