European Commission presents proposal for Erasmus+ programme (2028-2034)
For the period 2028–2034, the European Commission plans to increase the Erasmus+ budget by around 50% – from currently about €26 billion (2021–2027) to around €40.8 billion. This means the 2027 funding level can be maintained in future years with adjustments for inflation. However, it does not constitute an increase over the 2027 budget. In comparison, the draft overall EU budget foresees an almost double increase: from €1.1 trillion to just under €2 trillion. The Erasmus+ increase thus lags significantly behind the proposed overall budget vision.
In view of the ambitious EU targets set out in the ‘Union of Skills’ (link) and ‘Europe on the Move’ (link) with a target of 23% of university graduates having undergone a mobility period during their studies by 2030, it will be crucial in the upcoming negotiations on the programme regulation to secure the previous minimum share of 34% for the higher education sector in the overall Erasmus+ budget.
In June 2025, DAAD members called for a substantial increase and demanded a total Erasmus+ budget of at least €60 billion, of which €20 billion be allocated to higher education (link).
The programme’s overall objective is to contribute to a resilient, competitive, and cohesive Europe by promoting quality lifelong learning and strengthening the life and labour market skills of all individuals. It also aims to foster Union values, democratic and societal participation, solidarity, social inclusion, and equal opportunities in the EU and beyond. The programme will be a key instrument for building the Union of Skills, developing the European Education Area (EEA), and supporting the implementation of European strategic cooperation in education and training, including its underlying sectoral agendas. It will also foster youth policy cooperation and further develop the European dimension in sport.
The programme pursues seven specific objectives aimed at:
(a) Improving people’s education, skills, and competences particularly regarding their relevance for the labour market, as well as to the professional development and personal growth of the individual and to their contribution of a cohesive society;
(b) Strengthening a sense of European identity, active citizenship, solidarity and social participation, and enhancing democracy inducing resilience and positive societal change as well as anticipation, prevention and management of risks;
(c) Promoting quality, inclusion, innovation and cross-border collaboration in education and training, youth and sport to increase Europe’s attractiveness and competitiveness globally across all fields of education and training, youth and sport;
(d) Empowering young people to participate actively in society, democracy and the European project;
(e) Supporting policy developments and modernisation at systems’ level to make them more effective, resilient and inclusive;
(f) Providing young people with easily accessible opportunities to engage in solidarity and humanitarian activities in the European Union and beyond – the latter by setting up the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps;
(g) Promoting the European Sports Model.
Two pillars of the new programme architecture
The programme’s general and specific objectives are pursued through two sections, which are primarily transnational or international.
Learning mobility and volunteering opportunities
In the field of education and training, the programme shall support learning mobility of higher education students and staff, vocational education and training learners and staff, pupils, and teachers (including staff in early childhood education and care), and adult learners and staff in adult learning.
Additionally, the programme shall promote learning mobility among young people through various initiatives such as DiscoverEU and the European Solidarity Corps and among athletes.
Learning mobility can be accompanied by support for teaching and learning about the EU, including European integration, European values, and citizenship, and by measures such as language support, preparatory visits, training and virtual cooperation.
Talent and excellence development opportunities
In the field of education and training, the programme shall support:
(a) Erasmus+ scholarships in strategic educational fields, including in joint study programmes;
(b) Erasmus Mundus scholarships;
(c) Jean Monnet actions in the field of higher education;
(d) Support Jean Monnet Institutions pursuing an aim of European interest.
Cooperation among organisations and institutions
The programme shall support:
(a) Partnerships for cooperation, including small-scale partnerships to foster wider and more inclusive access to the programme;
(b) Partnerships for excellence and innovation, building on the European Universities Alliances, Centres of Vocational Excellence, European Teacher Academies, European School Alliances, Joint study programmes, European Youth Together and Sport Collaborative Alliances.
Support to policy development
The programme shall support:
(a) Experimentation, preparation and implementation of the Union’s policy agendas and tools covering skills, education and training, youth and sport;
(b) Programme implementation including synergies with, and support to other Union policies and programmes, online platforms, tools for virtual cooperation and tools to facilitate learning mobility;
(c) Dissemination and communication.
What happens next
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU examine the proposal and enter trialogue negotiations to reach agreement. Once an agreement is reached, the legal acts are formally adopted. In parallel, budgetary negotiations are ongoing to determine and approve the Erasmus+ financial envelope within the overall EU budget.
