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
DEVE-PA-782335
Committee on Development · Rapporteur: Carolina Morace
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The Committee on Development's draft opinion responds to the proposed Erasmus+ Regulation for 2028-2034. It asks the Culture and Education Committee to amend the proposal so the programme keeps a transformative role, with inclusion, civic engagement and a humanitarian dimension.¶¶¶ The amendments add new objectives on democratic literacy, critical thinking and media literacy, require compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and set a minimum 30% of the financial envelope for people with fewer opportunities.¶¶¶ They raise the indicative financial envelope to EUR 60 000 000 000, keep a separate budget line for the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps, and require low-carbon transport and carbon reporting for longer mobility.¶¶¶ Other amendments broaden the definition of people with fewer opportunities, require mutual recognition of non-formal learning and micro-credentials, and introduce simplified rules for small NGOs and grassroots organisations.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Development proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal, asking the Culture and Education Committee to keep Erasmus+ transformative, inclusive and humanitarian, to raise its budget, to set a 30% inclusion target and to simplify access for small organisations.¶¶¶
Key points
- The rapporteur says Erasmus+ should stay a transformative instrument for inclusive education, youth empowerment and sustainable international partnerships, especially with developing countries.¶
- The international dimension should follow reciprocity, mutual benefit and policy coherence for development, strengthen local education and training systems in partner countries and limit human capital depletion.¶¶
- Structural inequalities limit equitable participation, so the opinion asks for a clearer definition of people with fewer opportunities, better inclusion indicators and reinforced monitoring and reporting.¶¶¶
- Democratic literacy, critical thinking and youth civic participation should be intrinsic objectives of Erasmus+, independent of labour market outcomes.¶¶
- The programme should keep and reinforce its humanitarian dimension, including volunteering and solidarity actions in fragile contexts, and preserve the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps.¶¶
- Small NGOs and grassroots organisations should get better access, and local institutional capacity-building should be supported for balanced partnerships.¶¶
- Recognition and mutual validation of non-formal and informal learning outcomes, including micro-credentials, should be strengthened across member states.¶¶¶
- At least 30% of the programme's overall financial envelope should go to actions directly benefiting people with fewer opportunities.¶
- The Commission should set binding inclusion indicators and require annual reporting by national agencies, with disaggregated public reports.¶¶
- The indicative financial envelope for 2028-2034 should be EUR 60 000 000 000 in current prices.¶
- Beneficiaries should prioritise low-carbon transport, with possible financial incentives, and carbon reporting should be mandatory for learning mobility exceeding two weeks.¶
- All actions under the programme should comply with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and relevant international human rights standards.¶
Who is affected
- People with fewer opportunities, including those facing poverty, disability, care responsibilities or rural and remote residence, gain a broader definition and a 30% funding target.¶¶
- Small NGOs and grassroots organisations gain simplified cost options, lighter reporting and dedicated technical assistance.¶
- Developing countries and their local education and training systems are to benefit from capacity-building and protection against human capital depletion.¶¶
- The European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps keeps its distinct identity, visibility and a separate budget line.¶¶
- National agencies must report annually on binding inclusion indicators.¶