The European Parliament adopted a resolution tabled by the Committee on Culture and Education on the future of the Erasmus+ programme, acknowledging the extremely positive impact the latter has had on the personal and professional lives of more than 9 000 000 participants. It believed that the Erasmus+ programme and its successor should focus, in particular, on lifelong learning and mobility, and that this is an ideal opportunity to align the priorities of the successor of Erasmus+ with the new EU Youth Strategy and other EU-funded programmes.
Financing of the programme: Parliament regretted that the low success rate of projects launched under some Erasmus+ actions, limited grants and high demand for programme participation may jeopardise the success of Erasmus+. It felt that the next Erasmus+ programming period must be matched by significant additional funding which should be reflected in an increased budget, and called for more visible support for the Erasmus programme in anticipation of the upcoming multiannual financial framework (MFF) negotiations. Members encouraged the use of regional and social funds to increase the financial contribution of Member States to Erasmus+ mobility grants.
Youth unemployment and personal and social fulfilment: Members recognised the need for Erasmus+ to lend strong support to actions geared towards delivering better employment opportunities, noting that almost 90 % of all vocational education and training (VET) learners on mobility programmes say that their employability has increased as a result of this experience. Erasmus+ should focus on innovation and development and place a greater emphasis on enhancing key skills and competences, as well as foster stronger links between educational establishments and the business community. Parliament also urged the Commission and Member States to reinforce the opportunities for VET learner mobility and the professional apprenticeship dimension of the programme.
Social inclusion and accessibility: Parliament wanted the programme to be more open and accessible, given that fewer than 5 % of young Europeans benefit from the programme on account of socio-economic factors, and limited funding. It called on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen collaboration and thus improve the mobility of vulnerable people. Members drew attention to the lack of clarity and consistency in the recognition of European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits gained during the mobility period, and called for full implementation of learning agreements as a mandatory part of the mobility process and the smooth recognition of ECTS credits gained during Erasmus+ higher education mobility periods.
European identity and active citizenship; Members went on to stress that the Erasmus+ programme should continue to stimulate active citizenship, civic education and develop a sense of European identity. All education and training financed by Erasmus+ should also raise young people’s awareness of the added value of European cooperation. In this context, Parliament called on the Commission to develop a European student eCard giving students Europe-wide access to services.
Lastly, and given the high rate and importance of mobility between educational establishments on the continent and in the UK, Members felt that the Brexit negotiations should bring about a mutually satisfying agreement on the status of EU students and teachers participating in Erasmus+ mobility schemes in the UK and vice-versa.