European Commission reports 36 million participants in ESF+ and Erasmus+ programs

Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, announced that over 36 million Europeans participated in projects and programs funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and Erasmus+ during 2025 and the first part of 2026. This represents approximately 8% of the total European Union population.

Regarding the Erasmus+ program specifically, more than 1.7 million Europeans, including students, teachers, and athletes, benefited from the initiative in 2025. By the end of the year, it is estimated that approximately 22 billion euros of the total 27 billion euro fund will have been committed.

For the ESF+, it is estimated that over 100 billion euros will be implemented by the end of 2026 as part of the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework. Approximately 65% of this contribution is directed toward less developed regions, and more than half of the reported participants are individuals under the age of 30. The funds focus on employment, education, vocational training, and social inclusion.