On Tuesday 3 December, as part of Disability Rights Week at the European Parliament, MEPs on the Committee on Culture and Education discussed inclusion in the Erasmus+ programmes and the European Solidarity Corps with Michael Teutsch, Head of Unit at the European Commission’s DG Education and Culture (EAC).
Recalling the Commission’s commitment to these issues, Mr Teutsch detailed the measures put in place since 2021, in particular the adoption of a Commission framework decision establishing a set of inclusion measures for Erasmus+ and the ESC.
In addition, guidelines have been drawn up to provide clear definitions of target groups and inclusion objectives, and guidance to the national agencies responsible for implementation.
These agencies, which hold 80% of the programme’s budget, as Mr Teutsch pointed out, are responsible for devising national inclusion strategies. To support them, the Commission has set up a network for exchanging best practices and specific resource centres.
Furthermore, inclusion actions are comprised of extra financial support for participants with disabilities, including specific costs such as specialised equipment or the presence of accompanying adults.
According to Michael Teutsch, this additional expenditure does not reduce the total budget of the projects that receive additional funding.
He also said that measures had been put in place to adjust modes of transport, offering hybrid or short-duration alternatives to meet the various needs of participants.
Initiatives have also been launched to raise awareness of the opportunities available to the target audiences. Thanks to these measures, the participation of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds has risen considerably, from 10% in the previous period - between 2021 and 2023 - to 17% in 2024.
During discussions with MEPs, Lara Magoni (ECR, Italian) welcomed these efforts, as well as calling for “Erasmus for Disability to be actively promoted as a tool for connection and solidarity”. Zoltán Tarr (EPP, Hungarian) advocated simpler administrative procedures and more funding for special needs.
For her part, Sabrina Repp (S&D, German) called for targeted measures for groups with multiple disadvantages, particularly in rural areas. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)