A stronger Europe needs a properly funded Erasmus+

The European higher education sector calls on member states, the European Parliament and the European Commission to ensure an allocation of at least €60 billion for Erasmus+ from 2028 to 2034 during the ongoing negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget (multiannual financial framework).

As highlighted in the Draghi report, over the coming decade Europe needs significantly more talent – that can work together across borders, particularly in strategic sectors and at high skill levels. In this context, investing in people – through higher education exchange and collaboration – is central to Europe’s future prosperity, competitiveness and resilience, as reflected in the European Education Area, the Union of Skills and the Competitiveness Compass.

Europe now faces a strategic choice. Underinvestment in education would undermine the EU’s own political objectives. Therefore, we welcome the European Commission’s efforts, under the leadership of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, to secure an increased budget for Erasmus+ in a highly constrained financial environment.

Erasmus+ is one of Europe’s most tangible success stories. Its contribution to citizens’ lives and to Europe’s future needs investment that matches its proven impact. For nearly 40 years, this popular flagship programme has empowered millions of learners, strengthened institutional cooperation, deepened European integration and fostered global outreach.

At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, Erasmus+ delivers long-term returns in skills, employability, innovation capacity and civic engagement. Few EU programmes combine such broad public support with such clear and measurable societal impact. Erasmus+ contributes directly to developing a highly skilled, mobile and adaptable workforce, strengthens Europe’s knowledge base and enhances societal cohesion and democratic resilience.

Seventeen higher education organisations, together representing thousands of higher education institutions, millions of students and key stakeholders, underline a shared conclusion: Europe can only achieve its ambitions in education, skills and talent if Erasmus+ is ambitiously resourced.