On Monday 8 September in Strasbourg, MEPs from the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) held an exchange of views with the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Roxana Mînzatu. During the discussion, which focused on the next programmes in the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, the issue of the Erasmus+ programme, whose current budget the Commission is proposing to increase from €26.5 billion to €41 billion for 2028-2034 (see EUROPE 13683/5), was addressed.
Ms Mînzatu recalled that three priorities would underpin the future Erasmus+: reaching more citizens, promoting European values and supporting competitiveness. Erasmus+, she stressed, must evolve “from an opportunity for some” to “a right for every European”.
While a number of elected representatives welcomed the increase, a number of concerns were also expressed. Zoltán Tarr (EPP, Hungarian) insisted that the planned budget should not be reduced during negotiations with the Member States.
Hannes Heide (S&D, Austrian) also pointed out that the planned increase was likely to be limited by rising prices and that “even more new funds will be needed to achieve our objective”.
In response to these comments, Roxana Mînzatu acknowledged that inflation was weighing on the budget, but pointed out that the design of the programme meant that priorities could be adapted each year and that Erasmus+ could be supplemented by other European funding.
Sport and youth. In addition, Lara Magoni (ECR, Italian) called for more resources to be allocated to sport, the “essential pillar” of the programme. Giusi Princi (EPP, Italian) pointed out that youth associations “transform Europe into concrete policies” in disadvantaged regions. Sabrina Repp (S&D, German) said it was vital to support “education for democracy”, in particular through the work of local organisations. Roxana Mînzatu responded by saying that the funds allocated to sport would be maintained, with transnational projects, and that support for youth associations would remain a priority.
Educational alliances. Laurence Farreng (Renew Europe, French), rapporteur for an own-initiative report on a new vision for European university alliances (see EUROPE 13617/9), asked for guarantees that they would remain part of Erasmus+. The Commission’s Executive Vice-President confirmed that they would continue to be financed by the programme and that they would also be supported by other EU programmes, such as the Competitiveness Fund. On the subject of the ‘Alliance of Schools’, which Hristo Petrov (Renew Europe, Bulgarian) asked her about, Roxana Mînzatu said that concrete policy proposals would be put forward next year, in cooperation with the Member States.
Other elected representatives raised questions about mobility in vocational education, support for small organisations, the role of the media, and the role of culture. Roxana Mînzatu gave assurances that these points would be addressed in forthcoming discussions, in particular with the European Commissioner for Intergenerational Equity, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, for AgoraEU and Media+. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)