28 billion euros for Erasmus+ 2021-2027 to fund mobility and education

The new budget for the Erasmus+ programme will support all areas of education, youth and sport

On 25 March, the European Commission adopted the new Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme and budget. The new Erasmus + will receive 28.4 billion euros, with plans to expand existing programmes and introduce new ones. Erasmus+ will also support the resilience of education and training systems due to the global pandemic.

The current budget has almost doubled as compared to the previous period 2014-2020, which was just 14.7 billion euros. The new Erasmus+ programme offers study-abroad opportunities, traineeships, apprenticeships, and staff exchanges in all areas of education, training, youth and sport. It is available to students in secondary schools, higher education and vocational education students, adult learners, youth exchanges, youth workers and sports coaches.

With 28.4 billion euros, the budget has more than doubled

Mariya Gabriel, the Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, expressed her satisfaction with the new programme: “Erasmus+ remains a unique programme in terms of its size, scope and global recognition, covering 33 countries, and accessible to the rest of the world through its international activities. I invite all public and private organisations active in the fields of education, training, youth and sport to look at the newly published calls for proposals and apply for funding. Thanks to Erasmus+, we will make the European education area a reality.”

The main features of the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme are:

• Inclusive Erasmus+ is an opportunity for people with diverse cultural, social and economic backgrounds, as well as those living in rural and remote areas. The programme will involve third countries and will include sport and vocational training with a focus on smaller organisations.
• Digital Erasmus+ is going to support digital skills through training and exchanges and will use platforms such as eTwinning, School Education Gateway and the European Youth Portal. It will encourage traineeships in the digital sector.
• Green Erasmus+ will help develop sustainable modes of transport and awareness of environmental awareness in accordance with the European Green Deal.
• Erasmus+ for young people will continue to provide the possibility for 18-years-olds to get a rail pass to travel across Europe. It will also provide exchange and cooperation opportunities for young people to actively participate in democratic life at the local, national and European levels.

Lastly, the Erasmus+ resilience effort will aid in the development of new practices to improve the quality and relevance of education, training and youth systems across Europe.