Politiek akkoord over budget uitwisselings-, trainings- en onderwijsprogramma's in meerjarenbegroting (en)

The Irish Presidency has today secured agreement on Erasmus+ among EU Member States and with the European Parliament. Erasmus+ (2014-2020) is the new €16bn catch-all framework programme for education, training, youth and sport.

Erasmus+ is about more than just youth. It brings together the Lifelong Learning Programme (Leonardo, Comenius i, Grundtvig i, Erasmus and Jean Monnet i actions), Youth in Action and five other international programmes including Erasmus Mundus i and Tempus into one single, simplified and modern programme. This new programme will focus on formal and informal learning across EU borders to improve the skills and employability of students, educators and workers.

Named after the highly successful Erasmus student exchange programme (EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students), the new framework will build on this well- known and respected EU brand through an enhanced focus on student and educator mobility, reform of existing overlapping structures and greater co-operation in the field of education with non-EU countries.

Erasmus+ moves the EU’s cornerstone education and training programme to a broader focus combining a more streamlined process with greater accessibility and opportunities for more EU students, educators and workers to take part than ever before (over 4 million).

This new programme includes a focus on the exchange of best practice in teaching and seeks to build strong partnerships between education and business to foster innovation and competitiveness while promoting employability, particular in our youth at a time of severe youth unemployment. Uniquely, for the first time, sport will be a core component with a focus on grassroots activities, inclusivity and cooperation.