Ei-iE

On 3 December 2013, the Council adopted the regulation establishing ERASMUS+, the European Union's Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport for the period 2014-2020.

It brings together in a single programme activities previously covered by a number of separate programmes (including the Lifelong Learning Programme, Erasmus Mundus and Youth in Action) and it also covers activities in the new area of the European competence sport. The new programme has a total budget of about €14.7 billion - which represents an increase of 40% compared to the precedent budget.

Following the Council’s adoption Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth said " I am pleased that Erasmus+ has now been adopted formally by the Council. The budget increase of 40% demonstrates the EU's commitment to education and training. Erasmus+ will enable young people to increase their knowledge and skills through experience abroad which will improve their employability. While a majority of the budget will be used for individual mobility grants, Erasmus+ will also support partnerships to help people make the transition from education to work, and reforms to modernise and improve the quality of education in Member States." ETUCE has lobbied at numerous occasions in the previous 2 years to increase funds in the programme to each sector.

More information is available at http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus-plus/index_en.htm.