European Parliament proposes budget increase for Erasmus+ 2028–2034

The European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education has approved amendments to the European Commission’s proposal for the Erasmus+ program covering the 2028–2034 period. MEPs proposed increasing the program’s budget to €47.39 billion at current prices, a significant rise from the Commission’s initial €40.8 billion proposal.

To improve predictability and management, the committee suggested allocating funds across specific policy areas: 74.6% for education and training, 15% for youth and volunteering, and 4.1% for sports. The proposal also aims to make the program more inclusive by ensuring at least 20% of participants are individuals with limited access to education and career opportunities.

Additionally, the amendments advocate for exchange grants to account for regional disparities in living costs, housing prices, inflation, and purchasing power. The committee also supports merging Erasmus+ with the European Solidarity Corps and introducing mobility opportunities for mass sports athletes for the first time.