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Implementation of the Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027

TA-9-2024-0007 · P9_TA(2024)0007 · PE752.792

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Parliament's resolution reviews how the Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027 is working and sets out what should change. It praises the programme's reach and new actions, but points to heavy administration, low grants, payment delays, poor IT tools and weak credit recognition. It asks the Commission and member states to simplify the programme, remove financial, linguistic and administrative barriers, fix and stabilise IT tools by 2025, and improve inclusion, accommodation and payments. It calls for more support for vocational education and training, adult learning, schools, youth work, sport and the international dimension, and for synergies with other EU programmes. It demands a substantial budget increase in the 2028-2034 period, with funding from 2028 not below the 2027 level, and commits to tripling the current envelope.

Key points

  1. Finds the programme's structure works well, with a good funding ecosystem, a variety of actions and a learning community of participants, beneficiaries, stakeholders, National Agencies and EU institutions.
  2. Welcomes the memorandum of understanding between the European Education and Culture Executive Agency and National Agencies and expects it to clarify roles and spread good practice.
  3. Welcomes the European Universities initiative, the joint European degree label, Teacher Academies, Centres of Vocational Excellence, DiscoverEU and sport actions, and notes almost 100% budget absorption in 2021-2022.
  4. Says insufficient grants, payment delays, heavy administrative requirements and difficult application processes deter participants, newcomers and small organisations, especially in schools, youth, vocational education and training, sport and adult education.
  5. Is concerned that almost a third of higher education mobility students did not receive full credit recognition, and calls for alignment with the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education.
  6. Deeply regrets the slow and incomplete development of IT infrastructure and tools such as the Beneficiary and Project Management modules and Online Language Support, and asks that digital tools be optimised by 2025 and stabilised across programming periods.
  7. Calls on the Commission, member states, national authorities and National Agencies to simplify the programme at all levels, remove financial, linguistic and administrative barriers, and keep it a bottom-up citizens' programme.
  8. Asks for proportionate registration, application and reporting, clear guidance, continuous training for agency staff, early communication of deadlines and information sessions on reporting.
  9. Calls for higher upfront payments, timely payments, regular adjustment of grants and unit costs to inflation and living costs, and action on student accommodation.
  10. Calls for support for the European Universities Alliances' autonomy and sustainable continuation, and for a legal status for them.
  11. Asks for more funding and better rules for vocational education and training, adult learning, schools, youth work and sport, including a dedicated online tool for vocational education and training and a quality charter for apprenticeship hosts.
  12. Calls for synergies with other EU programmes and policies, better treatment of third-country nationals and non-associated third countries, and a substantial budget increase in the 2028-2034 period, tripling the current envelope.

Who is affected

  • Students and learners, especially those with fewer opportunities, who face financial, administrative and accommodation barriers.
  • Small organisations, newcomers and youth, school, vocational education and training and sport sectors facing heavy administrative requirements.
  • National Agencies and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, asked to improve communication, training and inclusion work.
  • The Commission and member states, asked to simplify the programme, fix IT tools and increase funding.
  • The Hungarian Government, asked to comply with the rule of law and EU values so Hungarian students, teachers and researchers can benefit from the programme.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 26.2 billion: estimated overall budget of the 2021-2027 programme.
  • 60 European Universities Alliances involving more than 500 higher education institutions by mid-2024.
  • Almost 100%: 2021-2022 budget absorption.
  • Almost a third of higher education mobility students reported not receiving full credit recognition.
  • 2025: deadline for optimising digital tools and for higher education institutions to adopt digital learning mobility nominations and transcripts of records.
  • 60% of adults participating in adult learning and education by 2030.
  • 2028: funding levels must not be less than those of the last year of the current programme (2027).
  • 2028-2034 programming period: Parliament commits to tripling the current envelope.

Legal basis: Articles 165 and 166 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.