The European Parliament has backed a report on the proposed Erasmus+ programme for 2028–2034, with 454 votes in favour, 34 against and 93 abstentions, setting out its position for negotiations with EU member states.
The debate over the next Erasmus+ budget goes beyond student exchanges, focusing on funding, equal access and how the European Union invests in its younger generations.
The new programme will replace the current framework and incorporate activities now carried out through the European Solidarity Corps. Parliament’s position will contribute to negotiations with national governments on the EU’s next long-term budget.
What is Erasmus+ and why does it matter?
Erasmus+ supports education, vocational training, youth exchanges, sport and learning mobility. It allows students to study in another country, encourages cooperation between educational institutions and helps young people develop skills, experience different cultures and build international networks.
The programme is not limited to university students. It also covers school pupils, apprentices, teachers, youth organisations and people involved in volunteering.
For participants, Erasmus+ can offer better language skills, professional connections and greater independence. For the EU, it is also a tool for strengthening cooperation between countries and fostering a shared European identity.
However, questions remain over whether the programme will receive sufficient funding, reach more people and become easier for young people and organisations to access.
Rapporteur Bogdan Zdrojewski, a Polish MEP from the European People’s Party (EPP), said the programme must remain accessible, easy to use and responsive to the needs of young people, students, pupils, teachers and organisations across Europe and beyond.
The new programme will follow the 40th anniversary of the launch of Erasmus in 2027, making the negotiations particularly significant for one of the EU’s best-known initiatives.
Why the Erasmus+ budget matters to Cyprus
Cypriot MEP Loucas Fourlas argues that increased Erasmus+ funding must translate into practical opportunities for young people in Cyprus, rather than simply a larger budget.
Fourlas said the EPP had long called for the programme’s budget to be doubled to €47.4 billion.
He said increased funding should enable more young people from Cyprus to study, train and participate in volunteering programmes abroad.
Fourlas also highlighted the financial barriers that prevent some young people from taking part. He called for greater support to cover air fares, accommodation and everyday expenses, particularly for participants from lower-income families. He also backed simpler application procedures.
For Cyprus, the issue extends beyond the number of students able to study abroad. As an island on the EU’s periphery, the country faces additional travel costs that can make international exchanges more expensive for participants.
Better-targeted grants could therefore influence which young people can access Erasmus+ opportunities.
The programme can also help Cypriot universities, schools and vocational training providers develop partnerships with European institutions. These exchanges can give young people new experiences and skills that improve their employment prospects.
Simpler funding procedures could also help smaller youth organisations arrange exchanges and reach people who might otherwise miss out.
Fourlas stressed the importance of supporting Cypriot schools, universities and youth organisations through more European partnerships and mobility programmes. He said these activities could help young people develop skills suited to the needs of the modern labour market.
However, a larger EU budget alone would not guarantee these results. Grant amounts, eligibility rules and support for people facing additional barriers will be crucial in determining whether the programme reaches more young people.
How much funding is being proposed?
The European Commission has proposed a budget of €40.8 billion in current prices for Erasmus+ for 2028–2034, incorporating the European Solidarity Corps into the same framework. This represents an increase of approximately 49% compared with the combined funding of the two existing programmes.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education has called for a higher allocation of €47.38 billion.
A larger budget could allow the programme to support more participants, educational institutions and youth organisations. However, Erasmus+ is part of wider negotiations over the EU’s next seven-year budget, in which education and youth initiatives compete for funding alongside other European priorities.
The central question is whether the proposed increase will be sufficient to meet demand or whether the EU risks promising more opportunities without providing the resources needed to deliver them.
Who will have access to Erasmus+?
Funding is only part of the debate. Accessibility is another major concern, as studying or training abroad involves travel, accommodation and everyday living costs that grants do not always cover fully.
These expenses can be particularly difficult for young people from lower-income households or countries where travelling to other parts of Europe is more expensive.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education has called for financial support to reflect differences in living and housing costs between host countries. It has also proposed a target for at least 20% of participants in mobility programmes to come from people with fewer opportunities.
The challenge is to ensure that Erasmus+ does not mainly benefit those who already have the financial means and support to participate, but also reaches young people facing economic, social or geographical barriers.
One programme, two missions?
The proposed integration of the European Solidarity Corps into Erasmus+ has raised further questions about the programme’s future.
The European Commission argues that bringing the programmes together could simplify EU funding and improve efficiency. However, the European Solidarity Corps has its own mission, supporting volunteering and solidarity activities, including humanitarian volunteering.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education wants to ensure that these opportunities remain visible and accessible within the wider programme.
The proposed budget allocation reflects this balance. According to the committee’s report, 74.6% of the funding would go to education and training, 15% to youth and volunteering, and 4.1% to sport.
For Cyprus, the outcome of the negotiations will help determine whether the next Erasmus+ programme can offer more young people the financial support and practical access needed to benefit from opportunities across Europe.
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