Regulation (EU) 2021/817 establishing Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2021/817 - formally adopted by the co-legislators on 20 May 2021 - establishment the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2021-2027. This is a text with EEA relevance.

Further information:

This Regulation lays down the objectives of the Programme, the budget for the relevant period, the forms of EU funding and rule s for providing such funding. It repeals Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013, which had established the Erasmus+ programme.

The initiative retains the integrated nature of the previous programme, covering learning in all contexts should be maintained to boost flexible learning paths. However, it also aims to increase the number of beneficiaries, reach out to people for all social backgrounds, building stronger relations with the rest of the world, focus on promoting forward-looking study fields, and promote a European identity with a travel experience (through the development of the DiscoverEU initiative). Due to a new funding cycle, it also became necessary to establish a successor programme. The proposal increases the funding made available for this programme, which is seen as key for achieving the European Education Area by 2025.

The proposal for this Regulation was tabled by the European Commission on 30 May 2018, as part of the overall draft MFF 2021-2027 proposed on 2 May 2018. The European Parliament's relevant committee adopted its position on 28 March 2019. In May 2020, the European Commission adopted a set of revised proposals for the MFF 2021-2027, in the framework of the Recovery Plan for Europe. Following the overall deal on the financial provisions for the MFF, an informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text was announced on 11 December 2020. Following formal endorsement, the Act was signed by the co-legislators on 20 May 2021 and published in the Official Journal on 28 May 2021.

Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2018)367: Proposal for a Regulation establishing 'Erasmus': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2018:367:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2018)276: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Main actions implementing the Erasmus Programme https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2018:276:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2018)277: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact assessment https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2018:277:FIN

European Commission: Erasmus+ Programme https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/node_en

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Erasmus programme for education, training, youth and sport 2021–2027 (2018/0191(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=&reference=2018/0191(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Erasmus - The Union programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-promoting-our-european-way-of-life/file-mff-erasmus

European Commission: Press Release, 30/05/2018: Commission proposes to double funding for Erasmus programme https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_18_3948

European Commission: Press Release, 11/12/2020: Commission welcomes political agreement on Erasmus+ programme https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2317

Scottish Government: News, 26/01/2021: Erasmus+ exchange programme https://www.gov.scot/news/erasmus-exchange-programme/

European Parliament: Press Release, 18/05/2021: MEPs approve new, more inclusive Erasmus+ programme https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210517IPR04109/

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News

Deutsche Welle, 05/04/2020: Coronavirus: Is the EU's Erasmus program under threat? https://p.dw.com/p/3aSv4

Reuters, 22/07/2020: EU budget cuts to research, Erasmus not acceptable - parliament chief https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL5N2ET27U

France 24, 25/07/2020: EU recovery plan deals a blow to popular Erasmus exchange programme https://www.france24.com/en/20200725-eu-recovery-plan-deals-a-blow-to-popular-erasmus-exchange-programme

EurActiv, 16/10/2020: Erasmus celebrated worldwide as MEPs push for more funding https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/erasmus-celebrated-worldwide-as-meps-push-for-more-funding/

Politico, 16/02/2021: EU rejects calls to readmit Scotland to Erasmus scheme https://www.politico.eu/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-rejects-calls-to-readmit-scotland-in-erasmus-scheme/

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Commentary and Analysis

Official Website of the Erasmus+ x10 Initiative https://erasmusx10.eu/

Coimbra Group: News, 16/07/2018: What Erasmus for 2021-2027? https://www.coimbra-group.eu/what-erasmus-for-2021-2027/

EPRS: Briefing, November 2018: Erasmus 2021-2027: The Union programme for education, training, youth and sport https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)628313

EPRS: Briefing, November 2018: Erasmus 2021-2027 - Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment (2021-2027 MFF) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)627139

EUObserver: Magazine, 04/12/2019: A bigger Erasmus budget to favour inclusion https://euobserver.com/who-is-who/146417

ESN: News, 29/05/2020: The revised EU Budget: Is the investment enough to make Erasmus+ inclusive and sustainable? https://esn.org/news/erasmus-budget-proposal-reaction

Erasmus+ Coalition: Erasmus+ Coalition joint statement on the revised proposal for EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 (June 2020) http://lllplatform.eu/lll/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Joint-statement_Erasmus-Coalition_MFF-proposal-2020.pdf

European University Association: News, 26/06/2020: Erasmus+: Europe’s future depends on ambitious commitment to education and training https://eua.eu/news/528:erasmus-europe%E2%80%99s-future-depends-on-ambitious-commitment-to-education-and-training.html

ICEF Monitor, 01/07/2020: Erasmus+ funding outlook for 2021 and beyond becomes more clear https://monitor.icef.com/2020/07/erasmus-funding-outlook-for-2021-and-beyond-becomes-more-clear/

EurActiv: Opinion, 18/09/2020: For the benefit of youth – for the benefit of inclusion https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/opinion/for-the-benefit-of-youth-for-the-benefit-of-inclusion/

LLL Platform: News, 17/11/2020: The compromise between the Parliament and the Council: Raising the bar for Erasmus+ http://lllplatform.eu/news/ongoing-negotiations-between-the-parliament-and-the-council-raising-the-bar-for-erasmus/

EUObserver: Opinion, 15/02/2021: MEPs have one last chance to save Erasmus from Brexit https://euobserver.com/opinion/150915

EPRS: At a Glance, May 2021: Erasmus+ 2021-2027 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2021)690595

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