The European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education believes that the budget allocated to the Erasmus+ youth mobility programme should be tripled after 2027, in a draft resolution on the mid-term evaluation of the programme, adopted on Tuesday 28 November by a large majority (22 votes in favour, 3 against, 2 abstentions).
MEPs regret that the size of grants and delays in the payment of financial aid limit the participation of young people in cross-border exchanges, particularly those from families on low incomes. They recommend an increase in payments made in advance of a stay abroad to make it easier to cover costs, particularly accommodation.
The parliamentary committee is also concerned that a third of the students who benefited from the mobility programme were unable to have their learning outcomes fully validated by their home university. In view of the high demand, it would also like the programme to offer more opportunities for primary schools, in particular to set up projects to combat harassment and discrimination.
On Tuesday, the European Commission also launched the 2024 call for proposals under the Erasmus+ programme for grants that have been adjusted in line with inflation (see EUROPE 13302/36).
The resolution will be put to the vote at the European Parliament plenary session in January 2024. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)