- Europe
- News Desk
- Source: European Parliament https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20261018IPR48265/a-better-equipped-erasmus-2028-2034-to-address-the-eu-s-strategic-challenges
The European Parliament has called for a €47.39 billion budget for the Erasmus+ learning mobility programme in 2028-2034, according to a statement published by the institution. The figure, approved by MEPs in a plenary vote of 454 in favour, 34 against and 93 abstentions, exceeds the €40.8 billion proposed by the European Commission for the period.
Key facts
Why is Parliament asking for more money?
- MEPs adopted their negotiating mandate on Erasmus+ for 2028-2034 with 454 votes in favour, 34 against and 93 abstentions.
- Parliament wants €47.39 billion in current prices, compared with the €40.8 billion put forward by the Commission.
- The mandate earmarks 74.6% of the total programme budget for education and learning, 15% for youth and volunteering, and 4.1% for sports.
- The Commission proposed the new Erasmus+ regulation on 16 July 2025 as part of the EU's 2028-2034 long-term budget package.
- Bogdan Zdrojewski, the Parliament's rapporteur on the file, welcomed the return of the United Kingdom to the programme.
Parliament argues that a larger budget is needed to make Erasmus+ accessible to young people from different economic, social and geographical backgrounds. The rapporteur, Polish MEP Bogdan Zdrojewski of the European People's Party, said the assembly's position was to reinforce the programme so it can meet the EU's strategic challenges.
"With our proposals we almost double its funding, and we welcome the return of the United Kingdom," Zdrojewski said. He described Erasmus+ as one of the EU's greatest success stories and said the programme deserved the ambition and investment needed to build on its results. How would grants and access change?
Under the mandate, grants would be adjusted to reflect differences in living costs, housing and inflation between host countries, regions and cities, with higher sums for those travelling to or from distant locations. Funding levels would be updated periodically to better match real costs.
MEPs also want the programme expanded to new profiles, including athletes active in grassroots sport, and learners, teachers and trainers in vocational education and training. Parliament further proposes integrating the European Solidarity Corps' volunteering and solidarity activities, along with the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps for work in non-EU countries, into Erasmus+. What about non-EU countries?
The mandate seeks faster access for candidate countries, which would no longer have to complete the full association procedure, and stronger ties with the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Parliament also wants Erasmus+ aligned with other EU funds, including the European Competitiveness Fund, Horizon Europe, Global Europe and the National and Regional Partnership funds, with scholarships in strategic areas supported through synergies and financed by other programmes. What happens next?
Parliament says it is ready to begin negotiations with EU governments once they have adopted their full mandate, including the overall funding levels for the EU's long-term budget. The assembly wants that budget to remain a strong investment tool delivering clear added value beyond national spending, and insists on new revenue sources to fund it.
Source: European Parliament
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