Education and training needs an appropriate budget share in Erasmus+

2 June 21026

In the statement, the signatory partners call for Erasmus+ to remain Europe’s flagship programme for education, learning mobility and cooperation, and to be backed by a suitably ambitious budget. They argue that adequate funding, reliable structures, strengthened international cooperation and improved access for all are central to the programme’s success. The increase to €47.39 billion foreseen by the Parliament is seen as an important signal.  The partners also welcome that the draft report reflects the sector’s call for the introduction of minimum budget allocations for the different sectors and actions of the programme, as well as synergies with other EU programmes, such as through the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF).

However, the 73.4% budget allocation for education and training set out in the draft CULT report effectively represents a cut of up to 10 percentage points compared with the current allocation for this area. A smaller budget or a lower share for education and training would inevitably limit opportunities across the programme, reduce access to mobility schemes and undermine the mobility targets set by Member States.