On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2028-2034, and repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/817 and (EU) 2021/888
CONT-AD-785266
Committee on Budgetary Control · Rapporteur: Daniel Freund
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The Committee on Budgetary Control gives its opinion on the proposed Erasmus+ regulation for 2028-2034, which also repeals Regulations (EU) 2021/817 and (EU) 2021/888.¶ It proposes amendments to protect the programme's core mobility mission, strengthen inclusion funding, and reinforce transparency, audit rights and protection of the Union's financial interests.¶¶¶ The amendments also cover suspension of funds, complementarity with other Union instruments, detailed budget allocations, and association of third countries including the United Kingdom.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Budgetary Control supports the proposal's objectives but proposes amendments to safeguard accessibility, financial sustainability, transparency and sound financial management, and submits them to the Committee on Culture and Education as the committee responsible.¶¶
Key points
- High-cost scholarships in strategic fields must rely on co-financing from other Union instruments whose objectives they primarily serve, so they do not divert resources from general mobility.¶¶¶
- Financial support for participants with fewer opportunities must reflect actual living and subsistence costs, taking account of regional variations, and recognition of learning outcomes and digitalised application procedures are strengthened.¶¶¶
- Implementing partners must cooperate fully with the Commission, OLAF, the European Court of Auditors and, where applicable, the European Public Prosecutor's Office, with traceability through the single electronic data interchange area and the single gateway.¶¶¶
- Suspension of funds under the Conditionality Regulation or other instruments should not harm individual beneficiaries; the Commission should keep implementing the programme while respecting financial-interest measures.¶¶
- The amendments require complementarity with other Union instruments, including the successor to Horizon Europe and the European Competitiveness Fund, and more detailed indicative budget allocations.¶¶¶
- Association of third countries, including the United Kingdom from 2027, must come with full transparency on financial contributions, governance arrangements and audit rights.¶¶¶
- The Commission should ensure Union funds are not granted to entities engaged in activities incompatible with Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union or in serious criminal or security-related activities.¶
- Simplified cost options should be used to the maximum extent, supported by robust result indicators, without hindering audit and investigation rights, and should be regularly updated to reflect actual living and subsistence costs.¶¶
- Performance measurement should rely on verifiable, quantitative data, with intervention fields linked to policy objectives, user-friendly performance summaries and a mid-term evaluation transmitted to Parliament and the Council.¶¶¶
- Annual work programmes should be adopted by delegated acts under Article 290 TFEU, and the Commission should transmit draft work programmes to Parliament's committee and the Council's working group for scrutiny.¶¶¶
- National agencies must minimise administrative burden through digitalisation, the 'once only' principle and proportionate reporting, and apply anti-fraud and conflict-of-interest measures including risk-scoring and data checks.¶¶¶
- The Commission must publish information on beneficiaries and final recipients in the Financial Transparency System in a searchable, downloadable and machine-readable format, and report annually to Parliament and the Council.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Erasmus+ participants with fewer opportunities, who would receive grants reflecting actual living and subsistence costs.¶¶¶
- National agencies and national authorities, which would face requirements on anti-fraud, conflict-of-interest prevention, digital traceability and reporting.¶¶¶
- Third countries associating to the programme, including the United Kingdom, which would face transparency and audit-right conditions.¶¶¶
- Implementing partners and beneficiaries, who must cooperate with the Commission, OLAF, the European Court of Auditors and, where applicable, the EPPO.¶¶¶
- Entities receiving Union funds, which must not engage in activities incompatible with Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union or in serious criminal or security-related activities.¶