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OPINION (COM(2025)0549 – C100170/2025 – 2025/0222(COD))

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

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Committee on Development · Rapporteur: Carolina Morace

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The Committee on Development gives its opinion to the Committee on Culture and Education on the proposed Erasmus+ Regulation for 2028-2034. It proposes 70 amendments to the Commission proposal. The amendments add reciprocity, mutual benefit and policy coherence for development to the Programme's international dimension, and aim to protect partner countries' education systems from brain drain. They widen the definition of people with fewer opportunities, add inclusion indicators, minimum financial allocations and a dedicated instrument for learners at risk. They make democratic literacy, critical thinking and youth civic participation objectives in their own right, and keep the humanitarian and volunteering dimension, including the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. They raise the indicative financial envelope to EUR 55 000 000 000 and require at least 2 % for beneficiaries in low and middle-income countries.

Committee position. The Committee on Development proposes 70 amendments to the Commission's proposal, adding development, inclusion, humanitarian and academic excellence objectives, raising the budget to EUR 55 000 000 000, and setting minimum allocations for people with fewer opportunities and for low and middle-income countries.

Key points

  1. The Committee on Development submits 70 amendments to the Committee on Culture and Education, the committee responsible.
  2. The Programme's international dimension should rest on reciprocity, mutual benefit and policy coherence for development, strengthening local education and training systems in partner countries and mitigating human capital depletion.
  3. Cooperation with low and middle-income countries should be based on reciprocity, mutual respect and equality, and should address restrictive visa regimes and bureaucratic obstacles.
  4. The definition of "people with fewer opportunities" is widened to cover structural and situational barriers such as poverty, care responsibilities, rural or remote residence, housing insecurity, gender, conflict or crisis vulnerability, and discrimination grounds.
  5. Minimum financial allocations should be set for participants with fewer opportunities and for outreach to rural, remote, non-metropolitan and conflict or crisis areas.
  6. An adequate and identifiable part of the budget should go to people with fewer opportunities, and not less than 2 % to beneficiaries in low and middle-income countries.
  7. The Commission should establish inclusion indicators and support annual reporting by national agencies.
  8. A dedicated support instrument for learners at risk should be created, covering persecution, armed conflict, threats to fundamental rights or denial of access to education, with simplified procedures.
  9. Democratic literacy, critical thinking, media literacy and youth-led civic participation should be intrinsic objectives independent of labour market outcomes.
  10. The Programme should keep its humanitarian dimension, support volunteering and solidarity in fragile contexts, and preserve the distinct identity, visibility and dedicated budget of the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps.
  11. The indicative financial envelope for 2028-2034 is set at EUR 55 000 000 000 in current prices, with a separate budget line for the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps and dedicated lines for education and training, youth, sport and support expenditures.
  12. Procedures should be simplified for small NGOs, grassroots organisations and newcomer organisations, including in low and middle-income countries, through simplified cost options, lighter reporting and technical assistance.

Who is affected

  • Participants with fewer opportunities, including those facing socio-economic disadvantage, disability or geographic isolation, gain wider definitions and minimum funding.
  • Learners at risk, including those facing persecution, armed conflict or denial of access to education, gain a dedicated support instrument.
  • Small NGOs, grassroots organisations and newcomer organisations, notably in low and middle-income countries, gain simplified procedures and lighter reporting.
  • Low and middle-income countries gain at least 2 % of the budget and support for local institutional capacity building.
  • Third countries seeking association must comply with Union values, academic integrity, freedom of research and non-discrimination safeguards.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 55 000 000 000 in current prices: the indicative financial envelope for the Programme for 2028-2034.
  • Not less than 2 %: the part of the budget allocated to beneficiaries in low and middle-income countries.
  • At least 80 %: the share of the Programme budget to be implemented under indirect management by national agencies.
  • Two weeks: the threshold above which carbon reporting for learning mobility could be collected.