Erasmus for all – single EU education and mobility programme for 2014-2020

“The Youth Intergroup of the European Parliament welcomes the increased amount of funding (17,299 Million €) foreseen for young people in the Commission’s communication on “Erasmus for all”. We welcome the Commission’s proposal for a single programme for education and mobility. However, there are three important points that we think should also be included in this programme:

1.

It must include all young people and all programmes so far existing concerning young people: students, apprentices, young entrepreneurs, young researchers and volunteers.

2.

We need social criteria for granting funds to young people, such as social and financial background, or living costs in country of destination.

3.

The former Youth in Action programme’s parts that concern young people’s participation on democratic life must remain separate. Active participation is not about spending some time abroad but about participation and intercultural dialogue regardless of young people’s social, cultural or educational background.

Article 165 par. 2 TFEU states clearly the Union’s task of encouraging participation of young people in democratic life. The Youth in Action Programme has shown its strength and good results. With the merging of the existing programmes into one, there will be less focus on the profile, the needs and the specificities of each field, including that of youth. In addition to that, smaller actors, usually those that are part of the youth field, such as youth organisations and small youth projects, stand to lose most from this consolidation of programmes. Therefore, we call on the European Commission to establish a separate chapter on Youth policy.

We also ask for earmarked amounts for young entrepreneurs, apprentices and volunteers.

Additionally, the participation of young people with difficulties for different reasons (social, physical, economic etc.) needs to be further improved.”

Damien ABAD
Franziska BRANTNER
Eider GARDIAZÁBAL RUBIAL
Ramona MANESCU
Pablo ZALBA BIDEGAIN

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