25 Nov 2025
EUA publishes response to EC proposal for Erasmus+ (2028-2034)
The European University Association (EUA) has published its response to the European Commission’s public consultation on the EU’s next long-term budget (MFF) with regard to the Erasmus+ programme, stating that in a challenging geopolitical and economic context, strengthening cross-border education is one of many urgent tasks that the EU’s next long-term budget must address.
According to the EUA policy input, the European Commission’s proposals for the next MFF and for the draft regulation to establish the Erasmus+ programme confirm the continuation of Erasmus+ with most of its actions and activities to be continued and enhanced. This fact is welcomed by the EUA, and is seen as being in line with the needs and aspirations of the European higher education sector.
Nonetheless, the EUA states that many open questions remain. These include the budget allocation per sector and new actions such as scholarships for excellence in priority sectors, as well as whether the proposed budget will be sufficient. The EUA stresses that as the main European institutions embark on the next stage of discussions on the future of the programme, additional detail and clarification on such points is essential. The association also claims that key stakeholders, including universities and the wider European education and training sector, must be closely involved in these discussions, and expert advice and existing evidence from the current programme should be fully utilised.
The EUA policy input outlines some key considerations, which build upon EUA’s detailed analysis and recommendations on Erasmus+:
- Increase the Erasmus+ budget
- Allocate tentative budgets to sectors and actions
- Clarify the proposal for full degree scholarships of excellence in strategic fields, including in joint study programmes
- Continue the European Universities Initiative
- Continue to focus on inclusion, as well as other societal priorities
- Contribute to Europe’s priorities through an open programme
- Make the most of the lessons learnt from the current programme.
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