Eurocommissaris Vassiliou presenteert Erasmus+ tijdens onderwijsforum (en)

Androulla Vassiliou i, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, will highlight the increased European Union support which will be available from January under the new Erasmus+ programme when she opens the 2013 European Education, Training and Youth Forum in Brussels today.

Erasmus+ will provide grants for more than four million people across the EU - most aged under 25 - to study, train, work or volunteer in another country. This international experience is aimed at increasing knowledge of foreign languages and other skills which boost employability. Envisaged to have a budget of nearly €15 billion in 2014-2020, Erasmus+ will be open to students, apprentices, teachers, youth leaders and volunteers.

Commissioner Vassiliou will emphasise the importance of strong partnerships between education, youth, business and civil society, with more focus on modernisation and quality in education and training so that qualifications and skills match labour market needs.

The Forum gathers 350 policy-makers and experts from 34 European countries. Doris Pack, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education, and Dainius Pavalkis, Lithuania's Minister of Education and Science, will also address the event. The discussions at the Forum feed into policy at EU and national level.