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EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 16.7.2025

COM(2025) 549 final

2025/0222 (COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

establishing the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2028-2034, and repealing

Regulations (EU) 2021/817 and (EU) 2021/888

{SWD(2025) 550-551} - {SEC(2025) 547}

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

Reasons and objectives

Policy context

Education, training, youth and sport are the Union's strongest investment in human capital,

nurturing skills, building bonds across Europe, thereby laying the foundation for a resilient

and cohesive European Union, with citizens equipped with the right skills and competences

from the earliest age, and who embrace a shared European identity in all its diversity. They

are also drivers for social fairness, sustainable prosperity and competitiveness and key

contributors to many of the EU's overall political priorities such as preparedness and the twin

transition.

The importance of education, training, youth and sport for Europe’s future has been reflected

in the EU’s recent policy agenda and strategic reports.

The EU leaders’ Strategic Agenda for Europe 2024 – 20291 makes investment in skills,

training and education a priority, recognising that in an era where global competition coupled

with political and social divergences are intensifying, education stands as a unifying force and

is the bedrock upon which Europe must build its strategic autonomy, economic strength,

democracy and cohesion.

In the political guidelines 2024-2029, President von der Leyen highlights the need to take a

‘radical step change in ambition and action – for all skill levels and for all types of training

and education. This is as important for people’s careers and prospects as it is for our

competitiveness.’ Moreover, the President pledged to ‘establish a Union of Skills2 – focusing

on investment, adult and lifelong learning, skill retention and the recognition of different

types of training to enable people to work across our Union’, and to ‘strengthen Erasmus+

including for vocational training so that more people can benefit. This is key for people to

develop skills and create shared experiences and a better understanding of each other. This

will be part of a wider commitment to giving young people greater freedom and responsibility

within our societies and democracies.’ She pledged to ‘continue to work towards a European

Degree’. The President further underscored that she wants to make sure that ‘young people

can use their voice – their own voice – to help shape our future.’

In its Resolution of 16 January 2024 on the implementation of the Erasmus+ programme, the

European Parliament3 emphasised that ‘the programme has been a driving force for the

European Education Area and should continue to respond to future trends in education to keep

up with societal and technological change’ and that the ‘programme is crucial in fostering a

European sense of belonging’.

The two key reports that provide thorough analysis and insights into the future of the

European Union, the Letta report4 and the Draghi report5, underline the importance of

1 Strategic agenda, 2024-2029, European Council of 27 June 2024

(https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/4aldqfl2/2024_557_new-strategic-agenda.pdf). 2 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council,

the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions the Union of Skills

(COM(2025) 90 final.) 3 Implementation of the Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027, (2023/2002(INI)),

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2024-0007_EN.html 4 Much more than a market, Enrico Letta, April 2024.

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investing in education and skills, including the key role of Erasmus+. In addition, the report

by Sauli Niinistö6 concludes that the resilience of the Union’s economy and societies,

especially in sectors critical for maintaining societal and economic stability, such as

education, is paramount in the face of potential large-scale crises, such as military conflicts

and disasters.

The Erasmus+ programme goes hand in hand with the ambition in the Union of Skills

Communication7 of 5 March 2025, to develop quality, inclusive and adaptable education,

training and skills systems to increase the EU’s competitiveness, and the European Education

Area (EEA), a key enabler of the Union of Skills. This will lay the foundation to skills

formation throughout life and provide a genuine common space for quality and inclusive

education and lifelong learning across borders.

EU funding support to challenges that affect skills, education, training, youth, volunteering

and sport has been provided through different programmes over the years. In the 2021-2027

multiannual financial framework (MFF), support was provided mainly through Erasmus+, the

European Solidarity Corps, the European Social Fund+, the Framework for research and

innovation, Horizon Europe. The proposal for the next MFF aims at addressing complexities,

weaknesses and rigidities’ currently present in the Union’s overall funding instruments with a

long-term budget more focused, simpler, with fewer programmes and more impactful.

Challenges/problems drivers

The EU faces serious challenges in the areas of education and training as well as youth and

sport. Europe needs people with the necessary skills and competences, for life and for jobs,

for personal growth as well as a more sustainable, resilient and digital economy and society.

Investing in the development of these skills is pivotal in ensuring a prosperous, cohesive and

competitive Europe. Today, education and training systems struggle to provide people with a

minimum proficiency level of basic skills and to foster the advanced competencies and soft

skills needed, across all stages of life. The acquisition of transversal skills and competences

such as flexibility, resilience, empathy, confidence, open-mindedness, critical thinking, digital

and media literacy and teamwork will be equally important to empower individuals to drive

change, thrive in a rapidly changing world and contribute to better mental health and

wellbeing. These skills also increase employability and help to strengthen societal resilience

and build a stronger Europe, that is better equipped to face crises. Europe is lagging behind in

basic skills8 and the underachievement rate has largely increased in mathematics (-18 points),

reading (-12) and science (-3.4) compared to the OECD’s previous programme for

international student assessment (PISA) in 2018. EU does not generate enough skilled

graduates from higher education and vocational education, with nearly four out of five

employers reporting difficulties finding workers with the right skills9. Overall, labour and

skills shortages have been increasing in all Member States, which is impacting EU’s ability to

embrace the green and digital transitions, and with it its competitiveness. Disparities in the

level and access to quality and inclusive formal and non-formal education across the Union

persist, including when it comes to rural and remote areas, accentuating economic, social and

5 The future of European competitiveness: Report by Mario Draghi, September 2024. 6 Safer Together – Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness, Sauli

Niinistö, 2024. 7 The Union of Skills, COM(2025) 90 Final. 8 Report of PISA 2022 study outlines worsening educational performance and deeper inequality |

European Education Area. 9 Eurobarometer survey, November 2023, data.europa.eu.

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territorial disparities. In addition, there are still gender gaps, with almost twice as many men

than women studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

There is a clear need to address these skills related issues and create an enabling environment

that promotes better learning outcomes for all from an early age and sets learners up for

success in the long term.

The EU's strategic autonomy and competitiveness also relies on its ability to nurture, attract,

and retain talent, particularly in the face of global competition. The Union must also prioritise

the development of education with a view to developing advanced skills, including digital,

technical, and transversal skills.

The skills challenge exceeds mere economic considerations and addresses the need for a

healthy, resilient, engaged, united and prepared society. It will be crucial to equip individuals

from an early age onwards with skills and competences for life, enabling them to navigate the

complex and rapidly changing world we live in, engage and take an active role in society and

in democratic processes. Young people’s belief in equal opportunities has declined sharply,

with a 16-percentage point drop in the last decade10. Many feel marginalised due to their

socio-economic status, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or political views,

particularly those with fewer opportunities or those living in rural or remote areas, with 24%

(close to 18 million) of young people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the Union; 11%

of young people aged 15 to 29 are still neither in employment nor in education or training.

The lack of affordable housing further exacerbates this vulnerability, limiting young people’s

access to education and learning mobility opportunities.

Young people tend to participate less in institutional politics and other democratic processes

than other age groups and much less than young people in the past11. They can be confronted

with obstacles in their participation in democracy, such as insufficient knowledge of their

democratic rights, difficult access to information and limited involvement in decision-making

processes. Democratic institutions and processes themselves can be inaccessible and

unwelcoming to young people. These challenges, including multiple skills requirements,

cannot be met through formal education and training only. Non-formal and informal learning,

involvement in activities such as volunteering, or sport bring complementary value. They can

offer valuable opportunities for people to develop knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours

to grow and become active and engaged citizens. However, opportunities for such actions are

limited, thus negatively impacting social capital development, particularly among young

people.

Programme contribution and objectives

The future Programme can contribute to address these challenges, through learning

opportunities for all and capacity building achieved through cooperation and policy support.

Learning mobility starting from an early age is at the core of Erasmus+. It exposes learners to

different and diverse learning environments, new teaching and training methods, institutional

settings and different social context. These experiences allow individuals not only to expand

disciplinary knowledge but also develop critical thinking, problem-solving and

communication skills, as well as improve resilience, adaptability, autonomy and self-

confidence. These skills are highly transferable to the professional world, increasing

10 Eurobarometer survey FL502 on Youth and Democracy on the European Year of Youth,

https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2282. 11 European Parliament Study, ‘Young people's participation in European democratic processes - How to

improve and facilitate youth involvement’, 2023.

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employability and contributing to a skilled and competitive workforce. For staff, learning

mobility boosts professional development, networking, and collaboration opportunities and

leads to improved quality teaching practices. This is particularly crucial in today’s educational

landscape where teaching careers at all levels need to be made more attractive and continuous

professional development must be encouraged.

The goal is to make learning mobility a reality for all, as early as possible, ensuring that

opportunities are accessible across all sectors of education and training as well as in youth and

sport, in line with the Council Recommendation ‘Europe on the Move - Learning

opportunities for everyone’12. EU action will help address the obstacles to mobility, providing

sufficient funding and support measures to promote diversity and ensure equal access for

individuals regardless of their cultural, social, economic, or geographical background, or any

special needs they may have.

Through boosting mobility and accompanying support measures, the future Erasmus+ should

strengthen its contribution to the fifth basic skill of democratic citizenship and to the

development of a sense of European identity and commitment to EU values. It is a

cornerstone programme for promoting democratic and societal participation, by integrating

citizenship and engagement in all Programme fields, in particular school education, better

aligning with new priorities like preparedness, and unlocking the full potential of the sport

field notably through expanding mobility activities in the field of sport to involve athletes

alongside coaches.

By offering volunteering opportunities and activities to engage and express solidarity, the

Programme will further promote the development of a culture of solidarity, care and

understanding among citizens, especially the youngest generations and will contribute to

advancing social inclusion and cohesion. To develop solidarity with people in need in non-EU

countries, this proposal also includes the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps,

supported by the European Solidarity Corps under the 2021-2027 programming period. The

European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps supports volunteering activities in post-crisis

long-term humanitarian aid and development cooperation operations, aimed at preventing and

alleviating human suffering, maintaining durable human dignity, reinforcing disaster

preparedness and disaster risk reduction, linking relief, rehabilitation and development and

contributing towards strengthening the resilience and capacity of vulnerable or disaster-

affected communities to cope with and recover from crises.

The Programme should also support students in engaging in critical sectors and continue to

boost innovation and excellence in education and training systems, including in developing

skills and competences in strategic areas, addressing Europe’s skills and talent shortages, and

making the Union a more attractive destination for EU and global talent.

Supporting and facilitating transnational and international cooperation between organisations

in the fields of education, training, youth and sport is instrumental in addressing the

challenges described above, enabling organisations to pool expertise and to combine

complementary strengths not available in any single institution. Cross-border cooperation

between education and training, youth and sport organisations encourages the required mutual

learning and exchanges of good practices. It also facilitates networking, enabling the

organisations and their staff to experience new approaches and methodologies and increase

their own capacity to deliver high quality teaching, training and learning. To increase the

effectiveness of its action in this area, the Programme should refine the focus of its

12 Council Recommendation of 13 May 2024 ‘Europe on the Move’ — learning mobility opportunities for everyone

(OJ C, C/2024/3364, 14.6.2024 ).

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cooperation activities, including by reviewing funding models, raising the relevance of target

groups involved and better focus on increasing capacity building and raising quality. The

Programme should reinforce its support to cooperation in the school sector by supporting

school alliances, addressing obstacles to cooperation and mobility and continuing to offer

opportunities that enable the roll-out of the European degree label and a possible European

joint degree to support the increase in the number of transnational joint study programmes.

The Programme will further enable long-term strategic transnational cooperation at

institutional level under key flagship initiatives, serving as testbeds for innovative instruments

that deepen links with the private sector and drive sustainable impact and transformation.

Through the provision of sustainable support and a clear strategic steer, partnerships for

excellence and innovation will directly address new policy priorities stemming from the

Union of Skills, the Competitiveness Compass13, the Clean Industrial Deal14, and the

Preparedness Strategy15.

The Programme will support policy development at European level, helping shape policies

that can trigger modernisation and reforms, at European, national, regional and systems' level,

in the fields of education and training, as well as youth and sport. It can contribute to the

development and circulation of skills, including by setting up basic skills support scheme and

boosting quality assurance, transparency, the recognition of skills, competences and

qualifications, their digitalisation, and the validation of non-formal and informal learning,

skills management and guidance. The Programme should also increase the impact, scale,

accessibility and sustainability notably by reinforcing synergies with other Union funding

programmes and instruments such as the next EU framework programme for research and

innovation, Horizon Europe, the European Competitiveness Fund, Global Europe, as well as

the National and Regional Partnership Plans under the next MFF.

The international dimension of the Programme is a fundamental and cross-cutting element

that is relevant for learning, cooperation as well as for policy dialogue. There is a need, in

particular, to bring candidate countries and potential candidates closer to their goal of

becoming an EU Member State through their engagement in the Programme and including by

facilitating their association with key EU initiatives such as the European Education Area and

the Union of Skills. There is as well a need to support priorities of other instruments such as

Global Europe, notably in relation to the Global Gateway strategy.

The Programme should be simplified and made more accessible to a broader audience

including smaller and less experienced organisations, notably by removing some challenges

through the change of management mode of some actions, bringing them closer to the field.

The Programme will become more relevant, attractive, and inclusive, with a focus on reaching

learners with fewer opportunities with further measures to facilitate their participation and

activities that better fit with their needs.

• Consistency with existing policy provisions

The proposal is fully aligned with the Union of Skills, an overarching strategy that focuses on

investment, adult and lifelong learning, vocational education and training, skill retention and

recognition, and improving skills intelligence. It sets the framework for EU cooperation in

education and skills policies, supporting the development of the EU's human capital to

13 Communication ‘A competitiveness compass for the EU’, COM(2025) 30. 14 Communication ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’,

COM(2025) 85. 15 Joint Communication ‘on the European Preparedness Union Strategy’, JOIN(2025) 130.

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strengthen its competitiveness. The proposal supports the Union of Skills by delivering on its

objectives, including the Action Plan on Basic Skills and the STEM Education Strategic Plan.

These aim to improve basic skills, provide lifelong learning opportunities, and attract and

retain the skills and talents needed in the European economy. In addition, the Programme will

support the implementation of the overall European strategic cooperation in education and

training, including its underlying sectoral agendas in the fields of school education, adult

education, vocational education and training and higher education.

The proposal is consistent with the objectives of the European Education Area (EEA),

which lays the foundation for skills formation throughout life and supports cooperation and

peer learning between countries. The EEA promotes high-quality and inclusive education and

training for all, facilitates the mutual recognition of learning outcomes across borders, and

supports the mobility of learners of all ages. The Digital Education Action Plan, part of the

EEA, further supports the development of digital education across EU Member States

equipping people with the digital skills and competences necessary for the digital

transformation. The proposal also aligns with the Council Recommendation ‘Europe on the

Move’, a building block of the EEA, to enable learning mobility for everyone.

The proposal is also in line with the EU Youth Strategy16, the policy framework in the field

of youth for 2019–2027, structured around the pillars of Engage, Connect, and Empower. It

aims to foster youth participation in democratic life, social and civic engagement, ensuring

that all young people have the necessary resources to take part in society.

In the field of sport, the proposal is aligned on the objectives of the EU Work Plan for

Sport17 (2024-2027), outlining a strategic approach that recognises the role of sport in social

cohesion, promoting well-being, building inclusive communities, strengthening cultural ties,

and enhancing solidarity among people. The work plan prioritises integrity, sustainability, and

social inclusion within sporting contexts, encouraging cross-border cooperation and the

sharing of best practices.

The Programme will also contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Goals, in particular to Sustainable Development Goal 4 to ensure inclusive and equitable

quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• Consistency with other Union policies

The initiative is aligned with the Commission’s overarching 2024-2029 policy priorities18,

namely 1) supporting people, strengthening our societies and our social model; 2) protecting

our democracy, upholding our values; 3) Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness;

4) a new era for European Defence and Security 5) a global Europe and 6) Sustaining our

quality of life: Food security, water and nature. It will also contribute to strengthening social

and territorial cohesion within the EU and intergenerational fairness.

16 Resolution of the Council of the European Union and the Representatives of the Governments of the

Member States meeting within the Council on a framework for European cooperation in the youth field:

The European Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027 (OJ C 456, 18.12.2018). 17 Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting

within the Council on the European Union Work Plan for Sport (1 July 2024 — 31 December 2027),

(OJ C, C/2024/3527, 3.6.2024). 18 https://commission.europa.eu/priorities-2024-2029_en.

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Synergies with policies supporting people, strengthening our societies and our social

model

The Programme will contribute to putting into practice the principles of the European Pillar

of Social Rights19 and implementing the flagship initiatives of the European Skills

Agenda20, to help individuals and businesses develop more and better skills and put them to

use, including the Pact for Skills which aims to mobilise and incentivise relevant private and

public stakeholders to partner up and take action for lifelong skills development. The

programme will also be in line with the future European Strategy on vocational education

and training, which aims to increase the attractiveness, excellence and inclusiveness of VET.

Particular attention will be given in the Programme to promoting gender equality, for

example the participation of girls and women in STEM, including through the Science,

Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) approach, also in line with the

Roadmap for Women’s Rights and the Gender Equality Strategy. The Programme will

also address differences in relation to access and use by underrepresented groups, as part of a

Union of Equality, in line with the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the

LGBTIQ Equality Strategy, the Anti-Racism Action Plan, and the Roma Strategic

Framework for equality, inclusion and participation21. The proposal is also in line with the

European Child Guarantee, and the EU Strategy on the Rights of the child,

comprehensive framework for the protection and promotion of the rights of all children.

Synergies with actions protecting our democracy and upholding our values

The Programme and in particular its focus on learning mobility, also at a younger age, will

further contribute to the development of a sense of European identity, commitment to EU

values and to the promotion of democratic and societal participation, in line with the

upcoming European Democracy Shield which will provide a strategic framework to

safeguard, strengthen and promote democracy in the EU, putting emphasis on young people.

The programme will provide education and training, as well as youth and sport with resources

to better embed citizenship education and develop all skills needed (e.g. critical thinking,

media literacy, digital skills), across lifelong learning, so people can participate actively and

responsibly in our societies. The Programme will also support the creation of opportunities

and mechanisms for meaningful youth participation, including in debate and decision-making.

Synergies with actions for Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness

The Programme will support the development of quality, inclusive and adaptable education,

training and skills systems as a contribution to the Union’s competitiveness, in line with the

Commission Communication ‘A Competitiveness Compass for the EU’22. It will also be

fully in line with the 2023 Green Deal Industrial Plan’s pillar on green and digital skills23,

19 In particular the first principle (everyone has the right to quality and inclusive education, training and

lifelong learning) and the fourth principle (everyone has the right to timely and tailor-made assistance to

improve employment or self-employment prospects, including to receive support for training and re-

qualification). 20 European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience, COM(2020)

274. 21 Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030, COM(2021) 101; LGBTIQ Equality

Strategy 2020-2025, COM(2020) 698; EU anti-racism action plan 2020-2025, COM(2020) 565; Roma

Strategic Framework for equality, inclusion and participation 2020-2030, COM(2020) 620. 22 A Competitiveness Compass for the EU, COM(2025) 30. 23 A Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age, COM(2023) 62.

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the 2025 Clean Industrial Deal24 the ensuing Affordable Energy Action Plan25 calling to

reinforce skills in strategic sectors such as energy and the AI continent Action Plan and Apply

AI strategy, as well as the European Ocean Pact26’s pillar on advancing ocean research,

knowledge, skills and innovation. The proposal is also in line with the Savings and

Investment Union Communication27 which foresees an EU wide strategy on financial

literacy.

Synergies with actions related to defence and security

In line with the European Preparedness Union Strategy, Erasmus+ will promote

preparedness, resilience, civic education, societal and democratic engagement through a

bottom-up approach, encouraging organisations and institutions to apply for funding and

promote digital and media literacy, critical thinking, civic engagement, democratic values and

citizenship learning. Volunteering is also essential in fostering a culture of inclusive

preparedness and societal resilience. The proposal is also aligned with the Communication on

a Vision for a European Space Economy28, contributing to the acquisition of the relevant

sector-specific skills.

Synergies with policies for a global Europe

The future Programme will complement actions financed through Global Europe. It will

moreover contribute to attract global talent and enhance the EU’s influence and attractiveness

on the world stage, as a trusted partner. The future Erasmus+ programme will include

participation of third countries and support for international partnerships, allowing for

synergies and contribution to EU’s policies on external action.

Synergies with policies on sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature

The proposal is also aligned with the priority on “sustaining our quality of life: food security,

water and nature” and to the Vision for agriculture and food29 contributing to the acquisition

of the skills needed in key sectors enabling to build a competitive and resilient agriculture and

food system or safeguarding our biodiversity.

2. LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

• Legal basis

The Erasmus+ programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport is justified on

the grounds of the objectives laid down in Articles 165 and 166 of the Treaty on the

Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). These give the Union a supporting competence

to contribute to the development of quality education, the implementation of a vocational

training policy, the development of youth exchanges and encouraging youth participation in

democratic life in Europe as well as the promotion of European sporting issues. By extending

its scope to provide support to solidarity activities addressing societal challenges and

humanitarian aid operations in third countries, the proposal is also based on Article 214(5) of

24 The Clean Industrial Deal, COM(2025) 85. 25 Affordable Energy Action Plan, COM(2025) 79. 26 European Ocean Pact, COM(2025) 281. 27 Savings and Investment Union Communication, COM(2025)124. 28 A vision for the European Space Economy, COM(2025) 0336. 29 A vision for Agriculture and Food shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future

generations, COM(2025) 75.

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the TFEU requiring the establishment of a European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps, a

framework for joint contributions from young Europeans to the humanitarian aid operations

of the Union and the rules and procedures for the operation of the Corps.

• Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

While Member States remain responsible for the content and organisation of their policies in

the fields concerned, the challenges identified are common to all Member States and/or have a

significant transnational dimension, that requires EU-level solutions, coordination, and

support to be addressed effectively. EU actions can facilitate cooperation, capacity building,

and mutual learning as well as cross-border activities, ultimately optimising the potential of

the sectors concerned.

The Programme aims to enhance transnational mobility and capacity building through

cooperation and support policy developments with a European dimension. However, due to

the transnational nature, high volume, and broad geographical scope of the activities

supported, as well as their strong international dimension, these objectives cannot be

adequately achieved by Member States acting alone. For instance, cross-border learning

mobility or volunteering is more complex to organise on a bilateral basis and is difficult for

individual Member States to make it accessible to all. The Erasmus+ mid-term evaluation has

demonstrated that single initiatives by education and training, youth and sport organisations or

Member States, although effective at national level, lack the necessary scale and volume to

achieve a European-wide impact. Furthermore, the cumulative coverage of individual country

and cross-sectoral initiatives remains limited compared to the current Erasmus+ programme.

Similarly, the European Solidarity Corps evaluation confirms that it plays an essential role

and, in some countries, is the only option for youth volunteering and solidarity.

Furthermore, by extending the Programme’s scope to cover volunteering activities, including

by integrating the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps, Erasmus+ will offer a single-

entry point to EU opportunities for young people across the Union and abroad. Currently

these are only accessible via distinct schemes. Erasmus+ will therefore ensure that all young

people across the Union have equal opportunities to a broader variety of activities, and that

they have easier access to them. Bringing the European Solidarity Corps’ opportunities under

Erasmus+ will also help improve awareness of the opportunities available to young people

and organisations working with them and give them greater visibility.

The added value of EU funding in the policy areas covered by the Programme was widely

acknowledged by respondents to the open public consultation conducted by the Commission

for the new MFF, with the vast majority highlighting its importance.

• Proportionality

This proposal covers all education and training sectors – school education, vocational

education and training, higher education and adult education – as well as youth, volunteering

and sport in a focused and streamlined way. It reinforces the tried-and-tested actions, whose

impact has been evidenced by the mid-term evaluations of Erasmus+ and the European

Solidarity Corps. Existing actions will be streamlined, including between Erasmus+ actions

and those integrated from the European Solidarity Corps. This will reduce duplications and

refocus them taking into consideration the results of the evaluations and stakeholder

consultations. The use of flexible formats will be continuously promoted to broaden the

Programme’s reach.

A limited number of new actions will be introduced to address new challenges and policy

priorities (such as the European School Alliances and Erasmus+ scholarships in strategic

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fields). These measures are also considered to be the most suitable for making the Programme

more inclusive and more effective.

The changes proposed build on the existing programme architecture, keep the same types of

intervention addressing individuals, organisations and systems, and aim to improve and

increase the impact of the Programme rollout, using the existing effective delivery

mechanisms of the predecessor programme. This initiative therefore does not go beyond what

is necessary in order to achieve the objectives pursued.

• Choice of the instrument

The proposed instrument is a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

3. RESULTS OF RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER

CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

• Retrospective evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation

Erasmus+

The final evaluation of the 2014-2020 programme and the interim evaluation of the 2021-

2027 programme30 found that Erasmus+ performs strongly across key evaluation criteria and

fulfils its objectives effectively. Both programme generations have proven successful in

delivering a strong European added value, playing a key role in the fields of education and

training, as well as youth and sport.

Despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Erasmus+ supported learning

mobility abroad of over 6.2 million participants in the 2014-2020 period and around 1.6

million in 2021-2023 helping to increase their skills and competences. It also funded over

136 000 distinct organisations in the 2014-2020 Programme and more than 77 000 in 2021-

2023, supporting their cooperation and improving their practices.

Erasmus+ significantly surpasses what could be achieved by individual countries at national

or international levels. Its benefits stem from the opportunities it provides to the personal,

educational and professional development of learners and staff, to cross-border cooperation of

organisations and to policy development in the fields of education and training, youth and

sport. It provides significant benefits to those who take part in the programme compared to

those who do not. Without Erasmus+, the benefits from the Programme for individuals and

organisations would be drastically reduced. Cross-border activities of education, training,

youth and sport sectors would be reduced to close to zero in several countries, especially in

the youth and sport sectors. Erasmus+ funds over half of credit mobilities in the Member

States, and over 90% of short mobility in half of the Union countries.

Furthermore, the programme is responding to emerging needs related to new challenges posed

by technological developments, aligning with the policy sectors and priorities of the European

Competitiveness Fund, in particular the emergence of generative artificial intelligence and the

provision of skills to support EU competitiveness. Erasmus+ is investing in helping develop

the skills needed to provide the Union single market and industrial sectors with the future-

proof skills to tackle the challenges of competitiveness, as highlighted in the Draghi and Letta

reports. The funding of learning mobility – which is at the heart of the programme – appears

key to ensuring that the younger generations are equipped with the right skills to face the

challenges posed in a rapidly evolving context. The Programme has also become more

30 COM(2025)395, SWD(2025)186, 15.07.2025

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inclusive and has increased the share of people with fewer opportunities among its

participants, from around 10% in 2014-2020 to 15% in 2023.

Despite the clear progress, the evaluation has identified still existing barriers to the

participation of people with fewer opportunities. Erasmus+ should thus keep addressing the

most pressing accessibility challenges, continuing to expand its reach to participants with

fewer opportunities. Further clarifying definitions of people with fewer opportunities and

providing clearer guidance on the measures available to support their participation would also

enhance inclusivity.

Reviewing the funding rules, simpler reporting procedures and streamlining across the various

actions and fields should be assessed to simplify access for small and newcomer

organisations. The evaluation also identified the need to simplify alternative funding, facilitate

the transfer of funds between instruments and break down barriers between different

operational modes and funding rules in order to build more synergies between Erasmus+ and

other instruments and increase projects’ upscaling. This should also be done via better

dissemination of project outcomes.

The evaluation shows the international added value of the programme, essential for fostering

EU values, intercultural learning, raising awareness of civic and active participation but also

for facilitating peer learning and bringing European expertise in the fields of education,

training, youth and sport to other regions.

The Erasmus+ evaluation identified opportunities to improve coherence with the European

Solidarity Corps and identify ways to address potential overlaps, improving overall efficiency

and increasing clarity for stakeholders.

European Solidarity Corps

The final evaluation of the 2018-2020 programme and interim evaluation of the 2021-2027

programme31 found that the European Solidarity Corps performs well across the five

evaluation criteria (relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, coherence, EU added value). The

European Solidarity Corps addresses European society’s crucial needs, by fostering civic

participation and promoting inclusion and diversity. The programme fosters a sense of

community, revitalising local initiatives and promoting a broader global perspective.

Participation contributes to improved personal, professional and study skills together with

social and civic awareness. The programme has also consistently met its targets on

participants with fewer opportunities (30% in 2022 and 2023). The evaluation’s outcomes

confirm that the European Solidarity Corps plays an essential role and, in some countries, is

the only option for youth volunteering and solidarity. A number of areas for improvement

have been identified. Key recommendations include (i) improving the identification of people

with fewer opportunities to facilitate their further inclusion in the programme, (ii) aligning

programme objectives and funding, (iii) addressing differences in the geographical

distribution of results and impacts, (iv) improving visa arrangements for non-EU nationals (v)

improving IT and monitoring tools, and (vi) clarifying the purpose of the humanitarian aid

strand. Funding has generally proven very limited given the programme’s ambitions and

objectives. The programme complements EU programmes like Erasmus+, but actual

synergies are somewhat limited, suggesting a need for more structured efforts.

A potential area of duplication highlighted by the evaluation concerns Erasmus+ Youth

Participation activities and Solidarity projects funded under the European Solidarity Corps.

They both support youth-led initiatives run by informal groups of young people, fostering

31 COM(2025) 144 final, SWD(2025) 75, 1.4.2025.

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active citizenship and a sense of initiative. Solidarity projects have a stronger solidarity

component, supporting mostly bottom-up local solidarity activities with a view to addressing

key challenges within the communities that the young people carrying the project live in.

Nevertheless, the many common areas of action suggest the need to reflect on potential

overlaps. The support activities that aim to increase the quality implementation of the two

programmes also emerge as examples of possible overlaps. Both activities are run by the same

national agencies, active in the youth field, and fund very similar activities, reaching out to

target groups that are often the same. These activities represent opportunities for synergies

between the programmes, they could also be examined for economies of scale and improved

efficiency.

In conclusion, the European Solidarity Corps complements Erasmus+ by offering

volunteering and solidarity experiences to young people outside of formal education and

training frameworks. The evaluations of both Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps

confirm the success of the programmes and highlight their effectiveness. While no major

structural or implementation issue was identified, it is recommended to continue pursuing

simplification and inclusion, enhance the international dimension, and address overlaps and

synergies between the two programmes.

The future instrument will therefore build on these successes and strengths. It will better

address the EU’s challenges related to sustainable prosperity and competitiveness, skills

shortage, social inclusion, democracy but also the requirement for greater inclusion, stronger

impact and simplification.

• Stakeholder consultations

Consultation activities took place between March 2024 and May 2025 and were designed to

gather input from a wide range of stakeholders. These activities consisted of an open public

consultation, two workshops with national authorities and national agencies, a large-scale

stakeholder conference (with national authorities, national agencies, umbrella organisations,

Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programme beneficiaries and participants as well as

representatives of EU institutions) and incidental consultations.

The open public consultation was conducted between 12 February and 7 May 2025, and

gathered 5 845 replies. It informed the impact assessment for EU programmes in the domains

of cross-border education, youth, culture, media, values and civil society under the post-2027

MFF.

The responses revealed a clear affirmation of the EU’s continued role in fostering cross-

border cooperation and supporting democratic and social objectives. Among the answers,

‘support for study/training abroad’ was ranked as ‘very important’ by 81% of citizens and

70% of organisations. This priority was frequently tied to the broader theme of long-term

investment in skills, employability, and European identity. Respondents linked learning

mobility not only with educational benefits but also with social integration, civic engagement,

and labour market readiness. Many referred to the role of EU funding in supporting student

exchanges, vocational training, language learning, and cross-border partnerships as levers for

developing a more inclusive and competitive society. Similarly, ‘protect democracy, promote

democratic standards’ received 80% support among citizens and 72% among organisations,

showing high convergence between individual and institutional stakeholders.

Youth engagement stood out as a strong feature of the consultation. Almost 50% of citizen

respondents were under the age of 30, and this age group consistently expressed strong

support for funding initiatives that promote democratic engagement, equality, mobility and

civic cooperation. Their feedback aligned well with the Commission’s strategic focus areas

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for youth, including those highlighted under the Youth Check initiative. Their engagement

also demonstrated a high level of awareness and investment in the values-based and cross-

border elements of EU programming.

The responses to the open public consultation also confirmed that EU funding provides added

value compared to funding at national, local or regional level in the areas it covered. For

example, 79% of respondents considered that ‘Protecting democracy and promoting

democratic standards’ is an area where EU funding largely provides added value.

Asked to evaluate the obstacles that prevent the EU budget from fully delivering on its

objectives in the policy areas, respondents generally welcomed the Commission’s focus on

greater efficiency in funding, but not at the cost of ‘identity’ and ‘trust’, preserving thematic

clarity and stakeholder ownership. Quantitative results show that the most frequently cited

obstacles across all groups were administrative burden (identified by 52% of citizens and 58%

of organisations) and complex, fund-specific compliance rules (50% of citizens and 53% of

organisations). These issues reflect concerns not only with regulatory complexity but also

with fragmentation between instruments and inefficiencies in delivery. Additional barriers

included lack of flexibility to reallocate resources in response to emerging needs (32% of

citizens and 32% of organisations), delays in programme implementation and funding

disbursement, and insufficient communication or clarity about funding opportunities. Public

authorities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in particular emphasised delays as a

source of reduced impact and local credibility.

The other consultations also revealed unanimous support for continuing with and improving

Erasmus+ and the opportunities offered under the European Solidarity Corps emphasising

their vital role in fostering EU values, supporting skills development and competitiveness.

Stakeholders underlined the need for programme stability in terms of overall architecture and

delivery mechanisms and maintaining mobility at the core of the programme. The feedback

also stresses the value of the flagship actions, such as the European Universities Alliances, the

Centres of Vocational Excellence, and the Erasmus+ Teacher Academies and the importance

of investing in them.

In terms of main challenges facing the future programme, data collected shows that while

stakeholders welcome the simplification measures introduced in the current programming

period, there is room for more improvements in that area such as streamlining the programme

rules and further reducing the administrative burden. The consultations highlighted the

increased commitment from stakeholders to meeting the needs of individuals with fewer

opportunities and the need to further enhance the strong inclusion dimension of the

programme by effectively reaching out to the most disadvantaged target groups and

facilitating the participation of grassroots organisations and newcomers. There were also calls

by some stakeholders to simplify access and alleviate the administrative burden through a

change of management mode - from direct to indirect management - for certain actions such

as Jean Monnet in other fields than higher education and Partnerships for cooperation in the

field of sport.

Additionally, stakeholders highlighted the importance of synergies that could be facilitated

between the different EU instruments. This includes improved coordination by the European

Commission at European level. There was a call for a strong international dimension,

increased and improved communication and information, an impact assessment as well as

data collection and use.

Overall, stakeholders provided valuable input on how to build on the progress made and

address remaining challenges to ensure the long-term success of Erasmus+ and the European

Solidarity Corps opportunities.

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• External expertise

The Commission based itself on the findings and recommendations of the mid-term

evaluations of Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, which relied on the expertise of

external contractors, as well as on other reviewed studies and external reports.

• Impact assessment

The proposal was subject to an impact assessment, which was carried out as part of the

preparations for the next MFF. It covered EU funds that support cross-border education,

training and solidarity, young people, media, culture, and creative sectors, values, and civil

society.

In the impact assessment, the Commission explored several alternative policy options to

address the challenges of the sectors covered by the cluster and determined which option

better served the policy areas and priorities of the Commission. The various options were

mutually exclusive. One option was to continue the existing Erasmus+ and European

Solidarity Corps programmes as stand-alone programmes, while introducing some

incremental improvements. A second option consisted of bringing together Erasmus+ and the

European Solidarity Corps, two programmes that share a common main objective to

contribute to high quality lifelong learning, enhance skills and key competences for all, for

life and for jobs, while promoting societal engagement and civic education, solidarity and

social inclusion. A third option was the full integration of policies currently covered by

Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, and those covered by the Citizens, Equality,

Rights and Values (CERV) programme and Creative Europe under a single instrument.

Other alternatives were also considered but were discarded at an early stage. One was the

discontinuation of Union funding in the fields currently covered by Erasmus+ and the

European Solidarity Corps, but it was rejected given the importance of the problems affecting

the sectors concerned, the prominence given to these policies in the political guidelines and

the added value of the Union intervention, underpinned by the respective mid-term

evaluations.

The main potential impact of the three shortlisted options (continuity, full integration, and

objective-based merger) was analysed against their social, economic and environmental

dimensions. Where relevant, the analysis also covered costs and benefits, impacts on

competitiveness and small businesses and on digitalisation, as well as the contribution to the

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, the options were assessed based on

their effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and proportionality, applying the Social Multi-

Criteria Evaluation.

The evaluation of the options and their impacts highlighted that integration based on policy

objectives (objective-based merger) would offer better potential compared to the two

alternatives. It would allow for better coordination, targeted flexibility, and a more effective

use of the Union budget – without sacrificing policy focus or accessibility.

This funding instrument will offer a more comprehensive approach and a coherent landscape

of formal, non-formal and informal opportunities for young people, aiming to boost skills

development, engagement, preparedness and social cohesion. Europe needs to ensure that

young people are equipped with a minimum proficiency level of basic and digital skills and

foster the advanced competencies and soft skills needed, across all stages of life. This is valid

for professional development but also for their personal development. This is crucial given

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that close to 18 million young people in the EU are at risk of social exclusion32 and, in 2024,

almost half of them reported recent emotional or psychosocial problems33. Europe also has to

address the insufficient knowledge among young people particularly of their democratic

rights, difficult access to information, limited involvement in decision-making processes and

the wider political debate. Addressing all those challenges is pivotal in ensuring a prosperous,

prepared and cohesive Europe but cannot be satisfied through formal education only.

Volunteering and other forms of non-formal and informal learning bring complementary value

to formal education. In terms of implementation, by unifying the intervention logic for these

areas (mainly covered by Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps), Union funding would

be significantly streamlined and simplified, leading to greater efficiency, economies of scale

and a reduced administrative burden.

The new instrument will build on the success of the current programmes and best practices of

the current MFF, as evidenced by evaluations. It will better address transnational and common

challenges, filling funding gaps at Member State level, and enhance coherence between

internal and external policies, while boosting synergies, efficiency and effectiveness, and

reducing overlaps.

Based on the Better Regulation guidelines, this impact assessment report was submitted for

quality scrutiny to the Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB). The RSB gave an opinion to the

impact assessment on 13 June 2025. The RSB made a series of comments and

recommendations on scope, problem definition and the use of evaluations, intervention logic

and objectives, comparison of options and cost-benefit analysis, governance, coherence and

future monitoring and evaluation. The impact assessment accompanying this legal proposal

was reviewed in accordance with the Board’s comments.

• Simplification

The proposal introduces several simplifications.

For individuals, in particular young people

By extending the scope and including volunteering and solidarity-projects, the initiative will

bring all EU opportunities for young people under one programme. The proposal will thus

offer a single-entry point to EU funding opportunities for young people and those working

with them across the Union and abroad, providing easier access to them.

For applicants and beneficiaries

The proposal aims to increase coherence and rationalise the architecture of the programme by

combining the cooperation and policy support actions, reshuffling actions (for instance by

bringing all cooperation opportunities for organisations together or moving the support to

platforms together with other tools and measures in order to support policy development and

programme implementation) and removing the unnecessary chapters per field. Actions that

share similar objectives and overlap will be merged. (e.g. learning mobility for higher

education learners and staff). These will bring clarity in the Union funding opportunities

offered, making it easier for potential applicants to find their way and identify the relevant

opportunities for them.

32 In 2024, 24,2% of all children less than 18 years old (19.5 million children) in the EU were at risk of

poverty and social exclusion. Source: Eurostat online data base (code: ilc_peps01n) [ilc_peps01n]

Persons at risk of poverty or social exclusion by age and sex. 33 Eurobarometer survey FL545, May 2024, Youth and democracy.

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Furthermore, the initiative will address the obstacles faced by grassroots, small- or first-time

applicant organisations and increase its reach by changing the management mode of some

actions (e.g. current Jean Monnet actions in other fields than higher education or cooperation

partnerships for sport). It will also introduce very low value grant partnerships with a strongly

reduced administrative burden for applicants.

The use of accreditation systems will continue to provide organisations with a structured

framework for continuous improvement and simplified access to funding, ultimately

facilitating long-term planning, increasing the quality of activities and enhancing transnational

collaboration. The use of simplified grants in the form of lump sums, unit costs and flat rates

will be used to the maximum possible extent.

In addition, efforts will be made to simplify overall application and reporting procedures as

well as harmonise rules, while ensuring proportionality between the grant level and the

requirements.

For stakeholders implementing the programme (national authorities, national agencies,

European Commission)

By bringing under one framework two programmes that operate with similar processes

duplicating each other in several areas (e.g. work programme, monitoring, communication),

the proposal will offer significant simplification, leading to greater efficiency, reduced

administrative burden and implementation costs. This will allow for a more efficient use of

resources, both for the European Commission, the Member States and third countries that

apply to be associated to the programme (i.e. implementing bodies).

• Fundamental rights

The proposal is in line with and respects the Union values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty

on the European Union. The objectives of the proposed initiative are closely linked to the

promotion of fundamental rights and the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of

the European Union. As described in detail in the 2024 Annual Report on the application of

the Charter of Fundamental Rights34, the 2021-2027 Erasmus+ programme contributes to

fundamental rights across all its fields. Similarly, this proposal will contribute to the

promotion and protection of rights enshrined in Article 8 (protection of personal data), Article

11 (freedom of expression and information), Article 13 (freedom of arts and sciences,

including academic freedom), Article 14 (right to education), Article 15 (freedom to choose

an occupation and right to engage in work), Articles 20 and 21 (equality and non-

discrimination), Article 22 (cultural, religious and linguistic diversity), Article 23 (equality

between women and men), Article 24 (rights of the child), Article 26 (rights of persons with

disabilities), 31 (fair and just working conditions), Article 33 (family and professional life),

Articles 39 to 46 (citizens’ rights) of the Charter. This is mainly achieved by funding projects

and initiatives that contribute to the practical application of these fundamental rights.

4. BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

See Annex

34 Funding to promote, protect and enforce fundamental rights, 2024 Annual report on the application of

the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (COM/2024/456).

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5. OTHER ELEMENTS

• Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements

This initiative will be monitored through the common performance framework for the post-

2027 budget. The performance framework provides for an implementation report during the

implementation phase of the Programme, as well as a retrospective evaluation to be carried

out in accordance with Article 34(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. The evaluation

shall be conducted in accordance with the Commission's Better Regulation Guidelines and

will be based on indicators relevant to the objectives of the Programme.

The Commission will report to the European Parliament, Council and all other relevant EU

institutions regularly.

A significant part of the Programme will be implemented in indirect management, mainly

through national agencies. The remaining parts of the Programme will be implemented in

direct management, mostly by an Executive Agency under the supervision of the Commission

services responsible for the Programme.

• Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal

The Regulation sets out the provisions for an Erasmus+ programme that covers education and

training, youth and sport and integrates the opportunities offered by the European Solidarity

Corps including the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps under the 2021-2027 MFF,

offering a comprehensive EU instrument to contribute to high quality lifelong learning,

enhance skills and key competences for all, for life and for jobs, while promoting societal

engagement and civic education, solidarity and social inclusion. The Programme is a key

instrument to support the implementation of the Union's policies in the field of education,

training, youth and sport. The specific objectives are intervention based.

Chapter I – ‘General provisions of the proposed Regulation set out its subject-matter, the

definitions of certain terms for the purposes of this Regulation, as well as the general and

specific objectives of the Programme.

The Programme is structured around a pillar on learning opportunities for all and a pillar on

capacity building that combines cooperation among organisations and institutions and support

to policy development, covering all fields of education and training, youth and sport.

Chapter II – ‘Scope of intervention’ identifies the activities envisaged in order to achieve the

objectives of the proposed Regulation. Under learning opportunities for all, the Programme

will support learning mobility in all fields and volunteering opportunities in the field of youth

on the one hand and talent and excellence development opportunities on the other. It also

covers the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. This strand includes as well a new

vision of extending mobility to ensure that all young Europeans get the possibility to have an

Erasmus+ experience at an earlier age when values and attitudes are formed, as well as new

opportunities (Erasmus+ scholarships) introduced to enable students to undertake studies in

strategic educational fields and existing opportunities moved under this strand for coherence

and clarity, including Erasmus Mundus scholarships and Jean Monnet actions in the field of

higher education.

Chapter III – ‘Inclusion and diversity’ identifies the focus the Programme should have on

inclusion and diversity as well as measures and tools to reach out to more participants with

fewer opportunities.

Chapter IV – ‘Financial provisions’ sets out the budgetary envelope of the Programme for the

programming period and the envisaged forms of Union funding. It also provides that an

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additional financial contribution should be allocated under other instruments. The Chapter

identifies the forms and functioning of synergies as well with other funds and resources. In

addition, this Chapter also specifies some specific rules applicable to direct and indirect

management such as for the allocation of funds under indirect management.

Chapter V – ‘Participation in the Programme’ specifies criteria for the participating countries.

It specifies which third countries can be associated to the Programme, either in full or in part

and the conditions under which they can take part in. The Chapter also identifies which

entities are eligible to receive funding.

Chapter VI – ‘Programming’ specifies that the Programme will be implemented by work

programmes.

Chapter VII – ‘Information, communication and dissemination’ sets out the requirements for

all the actors concerned in terms of dissemination of information, publicity and follow-up

with regard to all actions supported by the Programme.

Chapter VIII – ‘Management and audit system’ establishes the provision for the establishment

and functioning of the implementing bodies of the Programme. In management terms, the

proposed delivery mechanism is a combination of indirect management and direct

management. The combination of management modes builds on the existing structures of the

current programme. National agencies will be in charge of managing the large majority of the

Programme’s funds. The Chapter also lays down the necessary supervisory system to ensure

that the protection of the financial interests of the Union is duly taken into account when

actions financed under this Regulation are implemented.

Chapter IX – ‘Transitional and final provisions’ sets out the necessary provisions to ensure

the transition between programmes. The final provisions set out the date of entry into force of

the proposed Regulation which will be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all

Member States.

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2025/0222 (COD)

Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

establishing the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2028-2034, and repealing

Regulations (EU) 2021/817 and (EU) 2021/888

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular

Articles 165(4), 166(4) and 214(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee35,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions36,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,

Whereas:

(1) The Union needs to support and prepare its people, starting from an early age, with the

knowledge, skills and competences needed for success in learning, work, and life. To

enable this, the Union needs performing, agile, innovative and inclusive education and

training systems, able to nurture, attract and retain talent, to keep up with the pace and

scope of the ongoing societal, digital, environmental and economic transformations,

respond to the demographic challenges and the society’s and economy’s skills needs,

bridge skills gaps and satisfy industry needs in critical sectors.

(2) The Union is a community of values rooted in Europe's history and identity and

anchored in the Treaty on the EU. Understanding those values, including fundamental

rights and democracy, is an essential life skill and key to participation in the political

debate and decision making. Education and training, youth and sport activities help

equip citizens with the skills and competences to thrive, actively and meaningfully

participate in democratic life and in the society overall, and help people connect

around and defend shared values.

(3) The Union is built on solidarity, both among its citizens and among the Member

States. That universal value guides the actions of the Union and provides the unity

necessary to cope with societal challenges, which individuals are willing to help

address in practice, notably through volunteering.

35 OJ C , , p. . 36 OJ C , , p. .

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(4) It is essential that all people, irrespective of their personal, social, economic or cultural

background, have the opportunity to participate in a mobility experience abroad from

an early age, when values and attitudes are formed and when individuals are most

receptive to new experiences and influences. Early exposure to different environments,

cultures, languages and ways of life can help to break down stereotypes, promote

intercultural understanding, and instil values of respect, tolerance and solidarity,

thereby contributing to a more united and harmonious Europe.

(5) Building inclusive, cohesive and resilient societies, and sustaining the competitiveness

of the Union requires investing in learning opportunities for all, regardless of

background and means, in cooperation between Member States and organisations

active in the field, and in innovative policy development in the fields of education and

training, youth and sport. Such an investment also contributes to strengthening

European identity, fundamental rights and values and a more democratic Union.

(6) In line with the EU Preparedness Union Strategy37, preparedness, resilience,

participation in democratic life and civic engagement should be fostered through a

bottom-up approach, encouraging organisations and institutions to play a key role in

fostering digital and media literacy, critical thinking, promoting civic engagement, and

learning about democracy and citizenship. People and communities across the EU

must engage actively to prevent crises and to be sufficiently prepared to respond to

them.

(7) Common areas of action and objectives between the 2021-2027 European Solidarity

Corps and Erasmus+ programmes highlight the potential for enhanced synergy and

regulatory coherence. Bringing all learning mobility, volunteering, cooperation and

active citizenship opportunities together provides a single-entry point to all

opportunities offered by the Union for young people and organisations active in the

field of youth, allowing for a more coordinated and effective approach, and easier

access for potential participants and beneficiaries.

(8) In this context, it is necessary to establish Erasmus+ 2028-2034, the Union Programme

for education and training and also in the fields of youth and sport (the ‘Programme’),

as the successor to the 2021-2027 Erasmus+38 and European Solidarity Corps39

Programmes, which encompasses actions in the field of education and training, youth

and sport and sets up the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps.

(9) In a rapidly changing economic, social and geopolitical environment, experience has

shown the need for a more flexible multiannual financial framework and Union

spending programmes. To that effect, and in line with the objectives of the Erasmus+

programme, the funding should duly consider the evolving policy needs and Union’s

priorities as identified in relevant documents published by the Commission, in Council

conclusions and European Parliament resolutions, while ensuring sufficient

predictability for the budget implementation.

37 Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European

Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the European Preparedness

Union Strategy (Join/2025/130 final)). 38 Regulation (EU) 2021/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing

Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport (OJ L 189, 28.5.2021). 39 Regulation (EU) 2021/888 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing

the European Solidarity Corps Programme (OJ L 202, 8.6.2021).

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(10) The Programme should support the implementation of the Union of Skills40 and the

overall strategic frameworks for Union policy cooperation in the fields of education

and training, including the policy agendas for school education, higher education,

vocational education and training and adult learning, including up-skilling and re-

skilling, to allow citizens to develop competences and skills at all stages of their life to

thrive in society.

(11) In line with the EU Youth Strategy41, the European Youth Work Agenda42 and the

2024 Communication on the legacy of the European Year of Youth 202243, the

Programme should support meaningful participation of young people and youth

organisations in decision and policy making, youth mainstreaming across policy fields,

the validation of non-formal and informal learning, high-quality youth work and

competence development of youth workers. The programme will continue to support

all young people to participate in learning mobility and non-formal learning mobility,

including youth exchanges and youth participation activities, with the objective to

engage and empower young people to acquire and develop competences for life and

their professional future, to become active citizens and participate in economic, social,

cultural, democratic and political life, and to connect them to the European project and

contribute to building an inclusive, competitive and resilient Union.

(12) The Programme should support participation in sport and physical activity for all, in

line with the EU Work Plan for Sport 2024-202744. Therefore, there is a need to focus,

in particular, on grassroots sport, taking into account the important role that sport

plays in promoting healthy lifestyles, interpersonal relations, social inclusion and

equality as well as building cohesive communities.

(13) Digital transformation has changed society and the economy with an ever-deepening

impact on everyday life and demonstrated the need for higher levels of digital

readiness and capacity of education and training as well as the pressing need for digital

skills development for all across the Union.

(14) Formal, informal and non-formal learning play an essential role in addressing climate

change, raising awareness and instilling the skills and key competences needed for

changing personal behaviours. The Programme will help empowering people to act in

their respective communities and build up the needed skills for a successful clean

transition, in line with the Clean Industrial Deal.

40 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council,

the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions the Union of Skills

(COM/2025/90 final). 41 Resolution of the Council of the European Union and the Representatives of the Governments of the

Member States meeting within the Council on a framework for European cooperation in the youth field:

The European Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027 (OJ C 456, ST/14944/2018/INIT, 18.12.2018). 42 Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting

within the Council on the Framework for establishing a European Youth Work Agenda 2020/C 415/01

(OJ C 415, 1.12.2020). 43 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European

Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the European Year of Youth

2022 (COM/2024/1 final, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/txt/?uri=celex:52024dc0001) 44 Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting

within the Council on the European Union Work Plan for Sport (1 July 2024 — 31 December 2027),

(OJ C, C/2024/3527, 3.6.2024).

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(15) The international dimension of the Programme should aim to offer opportunities for

learning mobility, cooperation and policy dialogue with third countries not associated

to the Programme, building on the experience of predecessor programmes, including

to contribute to competitiveness of the Union, while ensuring protection of the

Union’s economic security interests. To increase the impact of those activities, it is

important to enhance synergies between the Programme and Global Europe, taking

into account the enlargement of the Union, the Global Gateway Strategy and the

education and training, youth and sport policy frameworks.

(16) The Programme should bring candidate countries and potential candidates closer to

their goal of acceding to the Union. The Programme should promote stability,

partnerships and skills development, with countries in the wider neighbourhood

including by enhancing ties with the Mediterranean region. Through cooperation with

other countries across the globe, the Programme should as well attract talents

worldwide, and shape partnerships notably to promote competitiveness of the Union.

The Programme should support countries in modernising their institutions and

organisations and, more generally, enhancing the quality and inclusiveness of

education, training, youth and sport through international partnerships.

(17) The implementation of the Programme should be guided by the principles and values

of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law, and

solidarity, as respectively enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union

and referred to in the preamble of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European

Union. It is thus essential that all parties involved in the Programme respect those

principles and values. The Programme should as well respect the principles set out in

the 2017 EU Guidelines for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child

and in Article 9 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as

well as the Union of Equality strategies.

(18) The Programme should encourage participation, in particular of young people, in

Europe’s democratic life, including by supporting activities that contribute to

citizenship education, nurture skills needed for civic engagement and enable to engage

and learn to participate in civic society, thereby raising awareness of European

common values, including fundamental rights, facilitating interaction with decision-

makers at local, national and European levels and contributing to the process of

European integration. The Programme should also support the creation of

opportunities and mechanisms for meaningful youth participation.

(19) The Programme should offer accessible, inclusive and safe opportunities for young

people and organisations to show solidarity, helping them support communities and

address societal challenges, while gaining valuable experience and skills for their

personal growth and employability.

(20) Volunteering, both within and beyond the Union, constitutes a rich experience in a

non-formal and informal learning context, enabling young people to show solidarity

and engage in activities contributing to address societal and humanitarian challenges

while enhancing their personal, socio-educational and professional development,

active citizenship, civic participation and employability. The Programme should thus

also support “European Solidarity Corps” volunteering actions, including the

European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. Those actions were covered under the

European Solidarity Corps programme in the 2021-2027 programming period.

(21) With a view to enhancing the promotion of solidarity and the visibility of

humanitarian aid and development cooperation among European citizens, there is a

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need to develop solidarity of Member States and third countries associated to the

programme with third countries not associated affected by disasters from natural

hazards and human-induced risks. The European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps

should contribute to a coordinated Union needs-based response and will be

implemented in accordance with the rules and procedures laid down in this

Regulation.

(22) Young people, in particular those with fewer opportunities, should continue to be

given the chance to have a first time, experience travelling throughout Europe as part

of an informal and non-formal educational activity that aims to foster their sense of

belonging to the Union and to enable them to discover its cultural and linguistic

diversity.

(23) In the field of sport, through mobility opportunities and capacity building, including

cooperation, the Programme should foster common European values, volunteering as

well as innovation and skills development in and through sport. The Programme

should also promote good governance, safety and integrity in sport, sport diplomacy,

support grassroots sports organisations, as well as offer young people across Europe

the opportunity to participate in cross-border sports initiatives, fostering personal

growth, cultural exchange, solidarity and community engagement.

(24) The Programme brings a key contribution to the Union of Skills and the European

Education Area, laying the foundation to skills and competences formation throughout

life and providing a genuine common space for quality education and lifelong learning

across borders. The Union of skills aims to step up the efforts to achieve high quality

education, training, and lifelong learning through delivering basic and advanced skills,

providing opportunities for people to update regularly and acquire new and future-

oriented skills, facilitating skills circulation and recruitment by businesses across the

EU, and attracting, developing and retaining top talent in Europe. In line with the

Union of Skills, the Programme should also reflect the importance of entrepreneurship

education and financial literacy.

(25) It is important to stimulate and widen access to learning, teaching and research on EU,

values and citizenship. Fostering a European sense of belonging and commitment is

particularly important given the challenges faced today by the Union. The Programme

should continue to contribute to learning on European integration matters, including

the Union’s future challenges and opportunities, to promote debate on those matters

and the development of excellence in European integration studies.

(26) The learning of languages contributes to mutual understanding between people and

cultures, and fosters mobility within and outside the Union, as language competences

are essential life and job skills. Therefore, the Programme should enhance the learning

of languages, including, where relevant, national sign languages. To ensure broad and

inclusive access to the Programme, it is important that multilingualism be a key

principle in the implementation of the Programme.

(27) Europe faces a growing challenge in meeting the demand for skilled talent in strategic

and evolving sectors like clean and circular technologies, transport, energy, water

resilience, healthcare, digital technologies, aerospace and defence. To address this key

need, it is essential to develop, attract and retain talented individuals in these fields. In

line with the Union of skills, the Programme should among other support EU students

to pursue studies in such critical sectors and attract as well top talent to Europe by

enhancing the attractiveness of education and training and offering scholarships to

students, including through Erasmus Mundus scholarships. This would contribute to

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address the skills needs for the labour market, including for sectors suffering severe

staff shortages.

(28) Cooperation enables exchange of practices and capacity building and thereby leads to

better outcomes and performance as well as efficiency gains by pooling resources and

knowledge. The Programme should therefore support capacity building measures that

enhance cooperation at different levels between institutions and organisations that are

active in the fields of education and training, youth and sport. This recognises the

fundamental role of institutions and organisations in equipping individuals with the

knowledge, skills and competences needed in a changing world and helping

institutions and organisations active in the field to adequately fulfil their potential for

innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, in particular within the digital economy.

(29) The Programme should support long-term strategic cooperation at institutional level to

build excellence, competitiveness and attractiveness and generate sustainable and

systemic transformation of education and training, youth and sport organisations and

institutions, in line with the EU’s priorities, including by acting as testbeds for

innovative education, training and skills development instruments, supporting

cooperation with business and industry. The Programme should continue to support

the work of education and training institutions and Member States towards removing

remaining barriers to transnational cooperation and multiplying the offer of

transnational joint study programmes, contributing towards a joint European Degree45.

(30) The Programme should support the core education mission of the European

Universities Alliances to enable systemic impact achieved more efficiently through

long-term Union level action, notably to reinforce excellence, reduce fragmentation

and increase the attractiveness and inclusiveness of EU higher education systems,

develop innovative instruments to increase quality of learning and teaching, develop

future oriented skills and competences (such as AI, cybersecurity, sustainability,

STEM), including the sectors already identified in the Union of Skills, through

relevant and future-proof curricula, pedagogical innovation, joint degrees, lifelong

learning, micro-credentials, to nurture and attract talent and facilitate transnational

cooperation in education, including with business and industry.

(31) In line with relevant Union frameworks and tools, the Programme should contribute to

the development and circulation of skills, including by setting up a basic skills support

scheme and fostering quality assurance, transparency, the recognition of skills,

competences and qualifications, their digitalisation, and the validation of non-formal

and informal learning, skills management and guidance. In that regard, the Programme

should also provide support to contact points and networks at national, and European

level that facilitate cross-European exchanges and beyond, and the development of

flexible learning pathways between different fields of education and training and youth

and across formal and non-formal settings, including through the support of micro-

credentials’ eco-systems.

(32) User-friendly online platforms and tools for virtual cooperation can play an important

role in supporting the delivery of education and training and youth policy in Europe

and beyond. To increase the use of virtual cooperation activities, the Programme

45 Council Resolution on a joint European degree label and the next steps towards a possible joint

European degree: boosting Europe’s competitiveness and the attractiveness of European higher

education. (J C, C/2025/2939, 22.5.2025).

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should support more systematic and coherent use of online platforms. It should as well

facilitate and support mobility processes through digitalisation.

(33) The Programme should be designed to promote inclusion, diversity and equal

opportunities by widening access to mobility, volunteering and learning across the

Union and beyond, thereby enabling all people to fully benefit from a transformative

experience.

(34) The Programme should provide for a set of measures to facilitate and increase the

access for people with fewer opportunities, to remove the obstacles that may prevent

such access, including financial ones, and to serve as a basis for further

implementation guidance. Those measures include, among other, targeted financial

support, accessible learning formats, housing support, preparatory activities and

support for participants with fewer opportunities before, during and after their

participation within the Programme, user-friendly and accessible documents available

in different languages, support activities for staff dealing specifically with inclusion

and diversity in organisations and raising awareness activities among potential

participants with fewer opportunities, including in rural and remote areas. In addition,

the Programme should allow to give priority in the grant awarding process to quality

projects that actively address the inclusion and involvement of participants with fewer

opportunities.

(35) In order to make the Programme more accessible for newcomer organisations and for

organisations with smaller administrative capacity and to make the Programme more

manageable for beneficiaries, the Programme should reinforce the measures to

simplify procedures at all stages.

(36) This Regulation lays down an indicative financial envelope for the Programme. For

the purpose of this Regulation, current prices are calculated by applying a fixed 2%

deflator.

(37) In view of the diversity of the fields covered by the Programme, the ambition for

youth and sport to contribute meaningfully to the Programme’s objectives and to reach

its target groups, should be maintained.

(38) Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council46

applies to this Programme. It lays down the rules on the establishment and the

implementation of the general budget of the Union, including the rules on grants,

prizes, non-financial donations, procurement, indirect management, financial

assistance, financial instruments, budgetary guarantees and protection of the financial

interests of the Union.

(39) In accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, Regulation (EU, Euratom)

No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council47 , Council Regulation

(EC, Euratom) No 2988/9548, Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/9649 and

46 Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September

2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union. (OJ L, 2024/2509, 26.9.2024). 47 Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11

September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and

repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council

Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999 (OJ L 248, 18.9.2013, p. 1, ). 48 Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European

Communities financial interests (OJ L 312, 23/12/1995, p. 1).

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Council Regulation (EU) 2017/193950, the financial interests of the Union are to be

protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection,

correction and investigation of irregularities and fraud, the recovery of funds lost,

wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, the imposition of

administrative sanctions. In particular, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom)

No 883/2013 and (EC, Euratom) No 2185/96 the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

may carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, with a

view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal

activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. In accordance with Regulation

(EU) 2017/1939, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) may investigate and

prosecute fraud and other illegal activities affecting the financial interests of the Union

as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the

Council51. In accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, any person or

entity receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s

financial interests, to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF,

EPPO and the European Court of Auditors and to ensure that any third parties

involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights.

(40) In order to simplify requirements for beneficiaries, simplified cost options in the form

of lump sums, unit costs and flat rates should be used to the maximum possible extent.

Simplified cost options to support learning mobility under the Programme should take

into account the living and subsistence costs in the host country. In accordance with

national law, Member States should be encouraged to exempt those grants from any

taxes and social levies; grants awarded to individuals by public or private legal entities

should be treated in the same manner.

(41) It is appropriate to ensure that the 2021-2027 Programmes are closed correctly, in

particular as regards the continuation of multiannual arrangements for their

management, such as the financing of technical and administrative assistance. As

from 1 January 2028, the technical and administrative assistance should ensure, where

necessary, the management of actions that have not been finalised under the 2021-

2027 Programmes by 31 December 2027.

(42) In line with Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

(TFEU), the Programme should take into account the specific situation of the

outermost regions referred to in that Article, including measures to facilitate their

participation to the Programme.

(43) Pursuant to Article 85 (1) of Council Decision (EU) 2021/176452, persons and entities

established in overseas countries and territories are eligible for funding under the

Programme subject to the rules and objectives and to any specific arrangement

49 Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks

and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial

interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2). 50 Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 of 12 October 2017 implementing enhanced cooperation on the

establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) (OJ L 283, 31.10.2017, p. 1). 51 Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2017 on the fight

against fraud to the Union's financial interests by means of criminal law (OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, p. 29). 52 Council Decision (EU) 2021/1764 of 5 October 2021 on the association of the Overseas Countries and

Territories with the European Union including relations between the European Union on the one hand,

and Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark on the other (Decision on the Overseas Association,

including Greenland) (OJ L 355, 7.10.2021, p. 6–134).

EN 27 EN

applicable to the Member State to which the relevant overseas country or territory is

linked.

(44) The Programme is to be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU) [XXX]* of

the European Parliament and of the Council [Performance], which establishes the rules

for the expenditure tracking and the performance framework for the budget, including

rules for ensuring a uniform application of the principles of ‘do no significant harm’

and gender equality referred to in Article 33(2), points (d), and (f), of Regulation (EU,

Euratom) 2024/2509 respectively, rules for monitoring and reporting on the

performance of Union programmes and activities, rules for establishing a Union

funding portal, rules for the evaluation of the programmes, as well as other horizontal

provisions applicable to all Union programmes such as those on information,

communication and visibility.

(45) In view to optimise the added value, increase scale and impact of investments,

synergies should be sought in particular between the Programme and other Union

funding instruments, including through enabling mechanisms. The Programme should

seek as well synergies that strengthen collaboration between education and the private

sector.

(46) The Programme should allow for full and partial association of third countries. The

Programme should also support the participation of third countries that are not

associated to the Programme where those countries are identified in the work

programme, their participation contributes to achieve the objectives of the programme

and is essential for the implementation of the action.

(47) Appropriate and inclusive outreach, publicity of the opportunities supported by the

Programme should be ensured at local, national and Union level and should take into

account the main target groups of the Programme and, where relevant, a wide variety

of other target groups. Furthermore, the Commission and the implementing bodies

should facilitate the sharing of good practices and project results and gather feedback

on the Programme.

(48) The Programme should mobilise the potential of former participants in the Erasmus+

Programme and support related activities by encouraging them to promote the

Programme.

(49) Measures should be taken to streamline the management of the Programme and

achieve economies of scale including by limiting and reducing the number of national

agencies.

(50) Regulations (EU) 2021/81753 and (EU) 2021/88854 should be repealed with effect

from 1 January 2028.

(51) In order to ensure continuity in providing support in the relevant policy area and to

allow implementation to start from the beginning of the 2028-2034 MFF, this

Regulation should enter into force on and apply from 1 January 2028.

53 Regulation (EU) 2021/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing

Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation

(EU) No 1288/2013 (OJ L 189, 28.5.2021, p. 1). 54 Regulation (EU) 2021/888 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing

the European Solidarity Corps Programme and repealing Regulations (EU) 2018/1475 and (EU) No

375/2014 (OJ L 202, 8.6.2021, p. 32).

EN 28 EN

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Subject matter

This Regulation establishes Erasmus+, the Union programme for action in the fields of education

and training and also in the fields of youth and sport (the ‘Programme’) and lays down the

objectives of the Programme, its budget for the period 2028-2034, the forms of Union funding

and the rules for providing such funding. This Regulation also sets up the European Voluntary

Humanitarian Aid Corps.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:

(1) ‘adult learner’ means a person who has left or finished initial education and training

and engages in formal, non-formal or informal learning, including NEET;

(2) ‘adult learning’ means any form of formal, non-formal or informal learning for

adults, encompassing opportunities for skills development, upskilling and reskilling

for competitiveness, enhancing social cohesion and supporting active participation in

society;

(3) ‘grassroots sport’ means physical leisure activities practiced regularly at non-

professional level by people of all ages for health, educational or social purposes;

(4) ‘higher education institution’ means an institution which, in accordance with

regional, national, or international law or practice, offers quality assured degrees or

other recognised tertiary level qualifications, regardless of what such an

establishment is called, or a comparable institution at tertiary level which is

considered by the national/regional authorities or the European Commission as

eligible to participate in the Programme in the respective territories;

(5) ‘higher education student’ means a person enrolled at a higher education institution,

including at short-cycle, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral level or equivalent or a

person who recently completed a degree from such an institution;

(6) ‘European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps’ refers to volunteering activities that

support post-crisis long-term humanitarian aid and development cooperation

operations in third countries not associated to the Programme, that are intended to

provide needs-based assistance aimed at preventing and alleviating human suffering,

and maintaining durable human dignity in the face of crises, and that include actions

that aim to reinforce disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction, link relief,

rehabilitation and development and contribute towards strengthening the resilience

EN 29 EN

and capacity of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities to cope with and recover

from crises;

(7) ‘informal learning’ means learning resulting from daily activities and experiences

which is not organised or structured in terms of objectives, time or learning support;

it may be unintentional from the learner’s perspective;

(8) ‘joint study programme’ means a programme coordinated and offered jointly by

different higher education institutions from two or more countries and leading to the

award of a joint degree;

(9) ‘lifelong learning’ means learning in all its forms, whether formal, non-formal or

informal, taking place at all stages in life and resulting in an improvement or update

in knowledge, skills, competences and attitudes, including through micro credentials

or participation in society from a personal, civic, cultural, social or employment-

related perspective, such as the provision of counselling and guidance services; it

includes early childhood education and care, general education, vocational education

and training, higher education, adult learning, youth work and other learning settings

outside formal education and training and it typically promotes cross-sectoral

cooperation and flexible learning pathways;

(10) ‘learning mobility’ means moving physically to a country other than the country of

residence, in order to undertake study, training, teaching, or non-formal or informal

learning;

(11) ‘non-formal learning’ means learning which takes place outside formal education

and training through planned activities in terms of learning objectives and learning

time and where some form of learning support is present;

(12) ‘people with fewer opportunities’ means people who, for economic, social, cultural,

geographical or health reasons or due to their migrant background, or for reasons

such as disability or educational difficulties or for any other reason, including a

reason that could constitute discrimination under Article 21 of the Charter of

Fundamental Rights of the European Union, face obstacles that prevent them from

having effective access to opportunities under the Programme;

(13) ‘school pupil’ means a person enrolled in a learning capacity at an institution

providing general education at any level from early childhood education and care to

upper secondary education or a person schooled outside an institutional setting

considered by the competent authorities as eligible to participate in the Programme

as a school pupil in their respective territories;

(14) ‘staff’ means a person who, on either a professional or a voluntary basis, is involved

in education, training or non-formal and informal learning at all levels, including

sport; it includes academic staff, teachers, trainers, school leaders, youth workers,

sport staff, early childhood education and care staff, non-educational staff and other

practitioners involved on a regular basis in promoting learning;

(15) ‘third country’ means a country that is not an EU Member State;

(16) ‘vocational education and training learner’ means a person enrolled in an initial or

continuous vocational education and training programme at any level from secondary

to post-secondary level or a person who has recently graduated or obtained a

qualification from such a programme;

(17) ‘volunteering’ means an unpaid activity that addresses societal or humanitarian

challenges and has a strong learning component;

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(18) ‘young people’ in the field of youth means individuals aged between 13 and 30;

(19) ‘youth worker’ means a person who, on either a professional or a voluntary basis, is

involved in non-formal learning and supports young people in their personal socio-

educational and professional development and the development of their

competences; it includes persons who plan, steer, coordinate and implement

activities in the field of youth.

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Article 3

Programme objectives

1. The general objective of the Programme is to contribute to a resilient, competitive,

and cohesive Europe by promoting high quality lifelong learning, enhancing skills

and competences for life and for jobs for all, while fostering Union values,

democratic and societal participation, solidarity, social inclusion and equal

opportunities, in the EU and beyond. The Programme shall be a key instrument for

building the Union of Skills, developing the European Education Area and

supporting the implementation of European strategic cooperation in the fields of

education and training, including its underlying sectoral agendas.

The Programme will advance youth policy cooperation and further develop the

European dimension in sport. The objective is to foster a more inclusive, united, and

robust Europe by empowering young people, strengthening community ties, and

promoting solidarity through meaningful engagement and cooperation. Sport plays a

vital role as a driver for social inclusion, health, education, and community

development. By investing in youth, volunteering, and sport, the Programme aims to

build stronger, more connected societies, encourage civic and democratic

engagement, and contribute to social cohesion at all levels.

2. The Programme has the following specific objectives:

(a) support the improvement of education, skills and competences with

particular regard to their relevance for the labour market as well as to the

professional development and personal growth of the individual and to

their contribution to a competitive, sustainable and cohesive society;

(b) foster a sense of European identity and active citizenship, enhance

solidarity and active participation in society and democracy, inducing a

positive societal impact, greater resilience and better preparedness to

anticipate, prevent and respond to risks of different nature;

(c) foster quality, inclusion, equity, sustainability, creativity, innovation,

excellence and cross-border collaboration, strengthening Europe’s

attractiveness and competitiveness globally, across all fields of education

and training, youth and sport;

(d) engage and empower young people to acquire and develop professional

and personal competences, to participate actively in society and

democracy and connect them to the European project;

(e) support policy development, including for circulation of skills,

accelerating reforms and modernisation at systems' level, across all fields

of education and training, youth and sport, ensuring that they are more

effective, resilient and inclusive;

(f) provide young people with easily accessible opportunities for

engagement in solidarity and humanitarian activities that induce positive

societal changes in the Union and beyond (the latter through setting up

the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps), while improving and

properly validating their competences, as well as facilitating their

continuous engagement as active citizens;

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(g) promote the European Sport Model by investing in grassroots sport,

especially voluntary activities, ensuring accessibility, promoting

participation, protecting integrity, supporting good governance, and

reinforcing sport’s social, educational, and community role, through

actions that focus on building a fair, inclusive, and sustainable sport

system across Europe.

3. The Programme objectives shall be pursued through the following pillars, which

mainly have either a transnational or an international character:

(a) Learning opportunities for all;

(b) Capacity building support.

CHAPTER II

SCOPE OF INTERVENTION

SECTION 1

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

Article 4

Learning mobility and volunteering opportunities

1. In the field of education and training, the Programme shall support:

(a) Learning mobility of higher education students and staff;

(b) Learning mobility of vocational education and training learners and staff;

(c) Learning mobility of school pupils and staff, including staff in early

childhood education and care;

(d) Learning mobility of adult learners and staff in adult learning.

2. In the field of youth, the Programme shall support:

(a) Learning mobility of young people, including DiscoverEU, activities

supporting youth participation and learning mobility of youth workers;

(b) ‘European Solidarity Corps’ volunteering, including the European

Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps.

3. In the field of sport, the Programme shall support learning mobility of athletes and

people active in grassroots sport and learning mobility of sport staff.

4. Learning mobility under this Article may be accompanied by:

(a) support to teaching and learning about the EU, including European

integration, values and citizenship;

(b) measures such as language support, preparatory visits, training and

virtual cooperation.

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Article 5

Talent and excellence development opportunities

In the field of education and training, the Programme shall support:

(a) Erasmus+ scholarships in strategic educational fields, including in joint

study programmes;

(b) Erasmus Mundus scholarships;

(c) Jean Monnet actions in the field of higher education;

(d) Support to the following Jean Monnet institutions pursuing an aim of

European interest: the European University Institute, Florence, including

its School of Transnational Governance; the College of Europe (Bruges,

including its subsidiary in Tirana, and Natolin campuses); the European

Institute of Public Administration, Maastricht; the Academy of European

Law, Trier; the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive

Education, Odense; and the International Centre for European Training,

Nice.

SECTION 2

CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT

Article 6

Cooperation among organisations and institutions

The Programme shall support:

(a) Partnerships for cooperation, including small-scale partnerships to foster

wider and more inclusive access to the Programme;

(b) Partnerships for excellence and innovation, building on the European

Universities Alliances, Centres of Vocational Excellence, European

Teacher Academies, European School Alliances, Joint study

programmes, European Youth Together and Sport Collaborative

Alliances.

EN 34 EN

Article 7

Support to policy development

The Programme shall support:

(a) Experimentation, preparation and implementation of the Union’s policy

agendas and tools covering skills, education and training, youth and

sport55;

(b) Programme implementation including synergies with, and support to

other Union policies and programmes, online platforms, tools for virtual

cooperation and tools to facilitate learning mobility;

(c) Dissemination and communication.

55 In particular: the European Qualifications Framework (EQF); the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework

for Vocational Education and Training (EQAVET); the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education

(EQAR);, the ENIC (European Network of Information Centres in the European Region) and NARIC (National Academic

Recognition Information Centres in the European Union) Networks, the Euroguidance network, the common framework

and tools for the provision of better services for skills and qualifications (Europass), the Eurydice Network, National

Coordinators for Adult Learning, the Central and National Support Services for online platforms, the European Higher

Education Area (EHEA) and the National Reference Points on graduate tracking, Youth wiki network, the Eurodesk

network, the European Youth Forum, Youthpass, the National Working Groups implementing the EU Youth

Dialogue and the National Coordinating Bodies implementing the European Week of Sport at national level.

EN 35 EN

CHAPTER III

INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

Article 8

Support measures for inclusion and diversity

1. When implementing this Regulation, the Commission, Member States and third

countries associated to the Programme shall ensure an inclusive approach across all

activities.

2. The Commission, Member States and third countries associated to the Programme

shall take effective measures to promote inclusion, diversity and fairness, solidarity,

and equal opportunities, in particular to ensure participation of people with fewer

opportunities in the Programme.

3. The Commission shall support access to the Programme from an early age and

independent of socio-economic background. To achieve that, it shall ensure the

provision of measures to facilitate the participation of people with fewer

opportunities, including financial support mechanisms, where relevant.

4. The Commission may adjust or may authorise the national agencies referred to in

Article 19 to adjust, on the basis of objective criteria, the financial support

mechanisms to improve access to people with fewer opportunities.

5. The costs of measures to facilitate or support the participation of people with fewer

opportunities shall not justify the rejection of an application under the Programme.

6. The national agencies referred to in Article 19 shall develop or update where

relevant, national inclusion and diversity action plans, based on the framework, and

with particular attention to the specific challenges to access the programme within

the national contexts. The national inclusion and diversity plans shall form an

integral part of the national agencies’ planning documents as referred to in Article

19(2).

7. The Commission shall monitor on a regular basis the implementation of the inclusion

and diversity measures, including the national inclusion and diversity plans.

CHAPTER IV

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

Article 9

Budget

1. The indicative financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme for the

period 2028-2034 is set at EUR 40 827 000 000 in current prices.

EN 36 EN

2. In addition to the amounts set out in paragraph 1 of this Article, and in order to

promote the international dimension of the Programme, an additional financial

contribution shall be made available from Regulation (EU) [XXX]* of the European

Parliament and of the Council [Global Europe]to support actions implemented and

managed in accordance with this Regulation. Such contribution shall be in line with a

single programming document drawn up under Regulation (EU) XXX[Global

Europe].

3. Appropriations may be entered in the Union budget beyond 2034 to cover the

expenses necessary and to enable the management of actions not completed by the

end of the Programme.

4. The financial envelope referred to in paragraph 1 and 2 of this Article and the

amounts of additional resources referred to in Article 10 may also be used for

technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the Programme,

such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, specific and

corporate information technology systems and platforms, information and

communication activities, including corporate communication on the political

priorities of the Union, and all other technical and administrative assistance or staff-

related expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of the Programme.

Article 10

Additional resources

1. Member States, Union institutions, bodies and agencies, third countries, international

organisations, international financial institutions, or other third parties, may make

additional financial or non-financial contributions to the Programme. Additional

financial contributions shall constitute external assigned revenue within the meaning

of Article 21(2), points (a), (d), or (e) or Article 21(5) of Regulation (EU, Euratom)

2024/2509.

2. Resources allocated to Member States under shared management may, at their

request, be made available to the Programme. The Commission shall implement

those resources directly or indirectly in accordance with Article 62(1), point (a) or (c)

of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. They shall be additional to the amount

referred to in Article 9(1). Those resources shall be used for the benefit of the

Member State concerned. Where the Commission has not entered into a legal

commitment under direct or indirect management for additional amounts thus made

available to the Programme, the corresponding uncommitted amounts may, at the

request of the Member State concerned, be transferred back to one or more

respective source programmes or their successors.

Article 11

Alternative, combined and cumulative funding

1. The Programme shall be implemented in synergy with other Union programmes. An

action that has received a Union contribution from another programme may also

receive a contribution under the Programme. The rules of the relevant Union

programme shall apply to the corresponding contribution, or a single set of rules may

be applied to all contributions and a single legal commitment may be concluded. If

EN 37 EN

the Union contribution is based on eligible costs, the cumulative support from the

Union budget shall not exceed the total eligible costs of the action and may be

calculated on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the documents setting out the

conditions for support.

2. Award procedures under the Programme may be jointly conducted under direct or

indirect management with Member States, Union institutions, bodies and agencies,

third countries, international organisations, international financial institutions, or

other third parties (‘partners to the joint award procedure’), provided the protection

of the financial interests of the Union is ensured. Such procedures shall be subject to

a single set of rules and lead to the conclusion of single legal commitments. For that

purpose, the partners to the joint award procedure may make resources available to

the Programme in accordance with Article 10, or the partners may be entrusted with

the implementation of the award procedure, where applicable in accordance with

Article 62(1), point (c), of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. In joint award

procedures, representatives of the partners to the joint award procedure may also be

members of the evaluation committee referred to in Article 153(3) of Regulation

(EU, EURATOM) 2024/2509.

Article 12

Implementation and forms of Union funding

1. The Programme shall be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom)

2024/2509, under direct management or under indirect management with entities

referred to in Article 62(1), point (c) of that Regulation.

2. The funds implemented under indirect management in a Member State shall be

allocated on the basis of:

(a) the population of and cost of living in the Member State concerned;

(b) the distance between capitals of Member States;

(c) performance, calculated based on the most recent data available.

3. The Commission shall further specify those criteria and their underlying formulae in

the work programmes referred to in Article 15.

4. Union funding may be provided in any form in accordance with Regulation (EU,

Euratom) 2024/2509, in particular grants, prizes, procurement, and non-financial

donations.

5. Where Union funding is provided in the form of a grant, funding shall be provided as

financing not linked to costs or, where necessary, simplified cost options, in

accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. Funding may be provided in

the form of actual eligible cost reimbursement only where the objectives of an action

cannot be achieved otherwise.

6. For the purpose of Article 153(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, the

evaluation committee may be composed partially or fully of independent external

experts.

7. Public legal entities, and institutions and organisations in the fields of education and

training, youth and sport that have received over 50 % of their annual revenue from

public sources over the last two years, shall be considered as having the necessary

EN 38 EN

financial and operational capacity to carry out activities under the Programme. They

shall not be required to present further documentation to demonstrate that capacity.

EN 39 EN

CHAPTER V

PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAMME

Article 13

Third countries associated to the Programme

1. The Programme may be opened to the participation of the following third countries

through full or partial association, in accordance with the objectives laid down in

Article 3, and with the relevant international agreements or any decisions adopted

under the framework of those agreements and applicable to:

(a) members of the European Free Trade Association which are members of

the European Economic Area, as well as European micro-states;

(b) acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates;

(c) European Neighbourhood Policy countries;

(d) other third countries.

2. The association agreements for participation in the Programme shall:

(a) ensure a fair balance as regards the contributions and benefits of the third

country participating in the Programme;

(b) lay down the conditions of participation in the programmes, including the

calculation of financial contributions, consisting of an operational contribution

and a participation fee, to a programme and its general administrative costs;

(c) not confer on the third country any decision-making power in the Programme;

(d) guarantee the rights of the Union to ensure sound financial management and to

protect its financial interests;

(e) where relevant, ensure the protection of security and public order interests of

the Union.

For the purposes of point (d) , the third country shall grant the necessary rights and

access required under Regulations (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 and (EU, Euratom) No

883/2013, and guarantee that enforcement decisions imposing a pecuniary obligation

on the basis of Article 299 TFEU, as well as judgements and orders of the Court of

Justice of the European Union, are enforceable.

Article 14

Eligibility

1. Eligibility criteria shall be set to support achievement of the objectives laid down in

Article 3, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.

2. In award procedures under direct and indirect management one or more of the

following legal entities may be eligible to receive Union funding:

(a) entities established in a Member State;

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(b) entities established in an associated third country;

(c) international organisations;

(d) other entities established in non-associated third countries where the

funding of such entities is essential for implementing the action and

contributes to the objectives laid down in Article 3.

3. In addition to Article 168(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509,

associated third countries referred to in Article 13(1) may, where relevant, participate

in and benefit from any procurement mechanisms set in Article 168(2) and (3) of

Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. Rules applicable to Member States shall be

applied, mutatis mutandis, to participating associated third countries.

4. Award procedures affecting security or public order, in particular concerning

strategic assets and interests of the Union or its Member States, shall be restricted in

accordance with Article 136 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.

5. The work programme referred to in Article 110 of Regulation (EU, Euratom)

2024/2509 or the documents related to the award procedure may further specify the

eligibility criteria set out in this Regulation or set additional eligibility criteria for

specific actions.

EN 41 EN

CHAPTER VI

PROGRAMMING

Article 15

Work programme

The Programme shall be implemented by work programmes referred to in Article 110

Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.

CHAPTER VII

COMMUNICATION AND DISSEMINATION

Article 16

Information, communication and dissemination

1. In cooperation with the Commission, the national agencies referred to in Article 19

shall develop a consistent communication strategy with regard to effective outreach

and to the dissemination and exploitation of the results of activities supported under

the actions they manage within the Programme. The national authorities referred to

in Article 18 shall support the national agencies in exploiting the results of projects

with high potential for impact.

2. The national agencies referred to in Article 19 shall assist the Commission in its

general task of disseminating information concerning the Programme, including

information in respect of actions and activities managed at national and Union level,

and its results. National agencies shall inform relevant target groups about the actions

and activities undertaken in their respective countries.

3. The actions and activities referred to in paragraph 1 and 2 shall be implemented in

accordance with Regulation (EU) [XXX]* of the European Parliament and of the

Council [Performance] which establishes the rules for the expenditure tracking and

the performance framework for the budget, including the rules applicable to all

Union programmes regarding information, communication and visibility obligations,

including in particular obligations for beneficiaries and implementing partners.

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CHAPTER VIII

MANAGEMENT AND AUDIT SYSTEM

Article 17

Arrangements for indirect management at national level

1. In accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 157(1) of Regulation (EU,

Euratom) 2024/2509, the implementation of the Programme under indirect

management requires the designation of a national authority and a national agency,

as specified in Articles 18 and 19.

2. The national authority and the national agency shall both be considered as

implementing bodies under point (c) of Article 62(1) of the Financial Regulation to

the extent of their responsibility for budget implementation tasks as agreed with the

Commission, with the national authority retaining principal responsibility towards

the Commission for the overall implementation of EU funds by the national agency it

designates and supervises as referred to in Article 18(10).

Article 18

National authority

1. The Member States and the third countries associated to the Programme shall notify

the Commission, through their Permanent Representation or Mission to the European

Union, of the public law body designated as the national authority for the purposes of

this Regulation, and the person or persons legally authorised to act on its behalf.

2. The national authority shall designate a national agency for the duration of the

Programme and notify the Commission thereof. The national authority shall not

designate a ministry as a national agency and the national agency shall be

organisationally separate from the national authority.

3. The national authority shall designate an independent audit body as referred to in

Article 21.

4. The national authority shall provide the Commission with an appropriate ex ante

assessment that the national agency satisfies the minimum requirements set out in

Article 157(1) to (5) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 and the Union

requirements for internal control standards for national agencies and rules for the

management of Programme funds.

For the purposes of the first subparagraph, the following arrangements shall apply:

(a) for the procedures specifically required by the Commission, including its

own and those specified in this Regulation, no ex ante assessment shall

be done in line with point (b) of Article 157(7) of Regulation (EU,

Euratom) 2024/2509;

(b) for procedures other than those specified in point (a), the national

authority shall make an ex ante assessment, which shall be based on its

EN 43 EN

own controls and audits or on controls and audits undertaken by the

independent audit body;

(c) where the national agency designated for the Programme is the same as

the national agency designated in accordance with Regulations (EU)

2021/817 and (EU) 2021/888, the scope of the ex ante assessment shall

be limited to the requirements that are new, unless otherwise justified.

5. In the event that the Commission rejects the designation of the national agency based

on its evaluation of the ex ante assessment, or if the national agency does not comply

with the minimum requirements set by the Commission, the national authority shall

ensure that the necessary remedial steps are taken to ensure compliance, subject to

approval by the Commission, or shall designate another body as national agency. In

exceptional cases where a national agency ceases to operate or to exist and the

national authority itself carries out budget implementation tasks in accordance with

this Regulation and relevant agreements thereunder, it shall be exempted from the ex

ante assessment.

6. The national authority shall provide adequate co-financing, at least equivalent to the

contribution referred to in Article 20(5), point (b), for the operations of its national

agency to ensure that the Programme is managed in accordance with the applicable

Union rules.

7. The national authority shall ensure that appointments of persons responsible for the

management of the national agency are justified by the nature of the action, follow

fair and transparent rules and procedures and do not give rise to a conflict of interest.

In case of serious concerns about compliance with these principles, the Commission

may reject the proposed appointment and request the national authority to ensure that

the selection procedure is repeated.

8. The national authority shall monitor and supervise the budget implementation tasks

entrusted to its national agency. It shall inform and consult the Commission in due

time prior to taking any decision that may have a significant impact on the

management of the Programme and the Programme funds.

9. The national authority shall, each year, provide the Commission with a report on its

monitoring and supervision activities and, where appropriate, a statement on its

follow-up to any observations issued by the Commission in response to such report.

10. The national authority shall take and retain responsibility for the proper management

of the Union funds transferred by the Commission to the national agency in the

framework of the Programme.

11. In the event of any irregularity, negligence or fraud attributable to the national

agency, or of serious shortcomings, liabilities or underperformance on the part of the

national agency, where any of these instances gives rise to claims by the Commission

against the national agency, the national authority shall reimburse and indemnify the

Commission for such claims.

12. In the circumstances referred to in paragraph 11, the national authority may, on its

own initiative or at the request of the Commission, revoke the mandate of the

national agency. Where the national authority wishes to revoke that mandate for any

other justified reason, it shall notify the Commission within a reasonable time before

the envisaged date of termination of the mandate. In such cases, the national

authority and the Commission shall formally agree on specific and time-limited

transition measures.

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13. In the event of revocation as referred to in paragraph 12, the national authority shall

carry out the necessary controls regarding the Union funds entrusted to the national

agency whose mandate has been revoked and shall ensure that those funds and all

documents and management tools required for the management of the Programme

are transferred to the new national agency in an unimpeded manner. The national

authority shall provide the national agency whose mandate has been revoked with the

necessary financial support to continue to meet its contractual obligations vis-à-vis

the beneficiaries of the Programme and the Commission pending the transfer of those

obligations to a new national agency. Should there be a transitional period between

the revocation of this mandate and the designation of a new national agency as

accepted by the Commission, the national authority shall, during such period, be

responsible for all the obligations of the national agency as laid out in this Regulation

and for all of its outstanding contractual obligations vis-à-vis the beneficiaries of the

Programme and the Commission.

14. Where a national agency ceases to operate or to exist and no new national agency is

designated as a result of the withdrawal of a third country from the Programme, the

national authority shall be principally responsible for all the obligations of the

national agency and for the fulfilment and closure of all the outstanding contractual

obligations vis-à-vis the beneficiaries of the Programme and the Commission.

15. At the request of the Commission, the national authority shall designate the

institutions or organisations, or the types of such institutions and organisations

eligible to participate in an action of the Programme in its territory.

16. The national authority shall promote and facilitate effective synergies and

complementarities with other Union, national or regional funds or programmes.

17. The national authority shall ensure that all necessary and appropriate measures are

taken to remove any legal and administrative obstacles to the proper functioning of

the Programme, including measures aimed at aligning the status of participants in the

Programme with that of other nationals in the same situation or at addressing

difficulties in obtaining visas or residence permits.

Article 19

National agency

1. The national agency shall:

(a) be a body within the meaning of Article 62(1), point (c), (v) or (vi) of

Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 and be governed by the law of the

Member State or of the third country associated to the Programme

concerned;

(b) have the adequate management capacity, staff and infrastructure to fulfil

its tasks satisfactorily, ensuring efficient and effective management of the

Programme and sound financial management of Union funds;

(c) have the operational and legal means to apply the administrative,

contractual and financial management rules laid down at Union level;

(d) have the requisite expertise to implement effectively the actions in all the

sectors of the Programme for which it receives a Union contribution;

EN 45 EN

(e) offer, if required by the Commission, adequate financial guarantees,

issued preferably by a public authority, corresponding to the level of

Union funds it is called upon to manage.

2. The national agency shall adequately plan its tasks for the implementation of the

relevant actions as set out in the work programme referred to in Article 15 and the

relevant agreements with the Commission, as well as for the information,

communication and dissemination activities referred to in Article 16(2.

3. The national agency shall manage all the stages of the project lifecycle of the

Programme actions under its responsibility in accordance with Article 62(1), point

(c) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 and the relevant agreements with the

Commission.

4. The national agency shall issue grant support to beneficiaries within the meaning of

Article 2, point (5) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 by way of grant

agreements as specified by the Commission for the Programme action concerned.

5. The national agency shall not, without prior written authorisation from the national

authority and from the Commission, delegate to a third party any task related to the

Programme or budget implementation conferred on it. The national agency shall

retain sole responsibility for any tasks delegated to a third party.

6. The national agency shall, each year, provide its national authority and the

Commission with a management declaration, a report and any other documents as

required in accordance with Article 158 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.

7. The national agency shall implement in due time the observations issued by the

Commission following its analysis of the yearly management declaration and report

and of the independent audit opinion thereon.

Article 20

European Commission

1. On the basis of the compliance requirements for national agencies referred to in

Article 18(4), the Commission shall review the national management and control

systems, using in particular the ex ante assessment provided by the national

authority, the national agency’s yearly management declaration and the opinion of

the independent audit body thereon, and the national authority’s yearly report

referred to in Article 18(9).

2. On the basis of the ex ante assessment referred to in Article 18(4), the Commission

shall accept, conditionally accept or reject the designation of the national agency.

The Commission shall not enter into a contractual relationship with the national

agency until it has accepted the ex ante assessment as satisfactory or taken

appropriate supervisory measures in accordance with Article 157(5) of Regulation

(EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. In the event of conditional acceptance, the Commission

may apply proportionate precautionary measures to its contractual relationship with

the national agency. Where the national agency no longer complies with the

minimum requirements, the Commission may suspend its contractual relationship

with the national agency until remedial action has been taken to ensure compliance,

failing which it may request the national authority to revoke the mandate of the

national agency and designate a new one, subject to a positive ex ante assessment.

EN 46 EN

3. The Commission shall provide the national authorities and the national agencies with

appropriate information and guidance in order to ensure consistent and high-quality

implementation and management of the Programme. In particular, it shall specify

planning, project management and reporting arrangements and ensure that these

arrangements follow simple procedures.

4. The Commission shall not make Programme funds available to the national agency

until it has approved its planning documents in accordance with Article 19(2).

5. The Commission shall make the following Programme funds available to the national

agency:

(a) a contribution for grant support for the Programme actions the

management of which is entrusted to the national agency;

(b) a contribution in support of the national agency’s Programme

management tasks;

(c) if relevant, an additional contribution for actions under Article 7, points

(a) and (b).

6. The Commission shall communicate to the national authority and the national agency

the outcome of its analysis and observations on the yearly report and management

declaration as referred to in Articles 18(9) and 19(6) and on the audit opinion as

referred to in Article 21(2).

7. Where the Commission does not accept the yearly management declaration or the

independent audit opinion thereon, or in the event of unsatisfactory implementation

by the national agency of the Commission’s observations, the Commission may

implement any precautionary and corrective measures necessary to safeguard the

Union’s financial interests in accordance with Article 132 of Regulation (EU,

Euratom) 2024/2509.

8. The Commission shall encourage and maintain an active dialogue and cooperation

with and between the national agencies and the national authorities, including the

exchange and transfer of good practice, with a view to improving and ensuring the

consistent implementation and management of the Programme. It shall also ensure

that appropriate conditions are in place for an effective exchange of information

between the Union institutions, national agencies or other bodies and entities

implementing the Programme.

9. The Commission shall deliver the necessary information technology systems to

support the implementation of the Programme objectives laid down in Article 3,

including for indirect management.

Article 21

Independent audit body

1. The independent audit body shall:

(a) have the necessary professional competence to carry out public sector

audits;

(b) ensure that its audits take account of internationally accepted audit

standards;

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(c) not be in a position of conflict of interest with regard to the legal entity of

which the national agency forms part; in particular, the independent audit

body shall be independent, in terms of its functions, of the legal entity of

which the national agency forms part.

2. The independent audit body shall issue an audit opinion on the yearly management

declaration as referred to in Article 158(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.

It shall form the basis of the overall assurance pursuant to Article 127 of Regulation

(EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.

3. The independent audit body shall give the Commission and its representatives and

the Court of Auditors full access to all documents and reports in support of the audit

opinion that it issues on the national agency’s yearly management declaration.

Article 22

Principles of the control system

1. The Commission shall be responsible for the supervisory controls with regard to the

Programme actions and activities managed by the national agencies. The

Commission shall set the minimum requirements for the controls by the national

agency and the independent audit body.

2. The national agency shall be responsible for the primary controls of grant

beneficiaries for the actions it manages as set out in the work programmes referred to

in Article 15. Those controls shall give reasonable assurance that the grants awarded

are used as intended and in compliance with the applicable Union rules.

3. With regard to the Programme funds transferred to the national agencies, the

Commission shall ensure proper coordination of its controls with the national

authorities and the national agencies, on the basis of the single audit principle and

following a risk-based analysis.

CHAPTER IX

TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 23

Repeal

Regulation (EU) No 2021/817 and Regulation (EU) No 2021/888 are repealed with effect

from 1 January 2028.

Article 24

Transitional provisions

1. This Regulation shall not affect the continuation or modification of the actions

concerned, until their closure, under Regulations (EU) 2021/817 and (EU) 2021/888,

which shall continue to apply to the actions concerned until their closure.

EN 48 EN

2. The financial envelope for the Programme may also cover technical and

administrative assistance expenses necessary to ensure the transition between the

Programme and the measures adopted under Regulations (EU) 2021/817 and (EU)

2021/888.

3. Member States shall ensure at national level the unimpeded transition between the

actions carried out under Regulations (EU) 2021/817 and (EU) 2021/888 and those

to be implemented under this Programme.

Article 25

Entry into force and application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in

the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2028.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the European Parliament For the Council

The President The President

EN 1 EN

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL AND DIGITAL STATEMENT

1. FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE ................................................. 3

1.1. Title of the proposal/initiative ...................................................................................... 3

1.2. Policy area(s) concerned .............................................................................................. 3

1.3. Objective(s) .................................................................................................................. 3

1.3.1. General objective(s) ..................................................................................................... 3

1.3.2. Specific objective(s) ..................................................................................................... 3

1.3.3. Expected result(s) and impact ...................................................................................... 3

1.3.4. Indicators of performance ............................................................................................ 3

1.4. The proposal/initiative relates to: ................................................................................. 4

1.5. Grounds for the proposal/initiative .............................................................................. 4

1.5.1. Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for

roll-out of the implementation of the initiative ............................................................ 4

1.5.2. Added value of EU involvement (it may result from different factors, e.g.

coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For

the purposes of this section 'added value of EU involvement' is the value resulting

from EU action, that is additional to the value that would have been otherwise

created by Member States alone. ................................................................................. 4

1.5.3. Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past .................................................. 4

1.5.4. Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with

other appropriate instruments ....................................................................................... 5

1.5.5. Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for

redeployment ................................................................................................................ 5

1.6. Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact .................................... 6

1.7. Method(s) of budget implementation planned ............................................................. 6

2. MANAGEMENT MEASURES................................................................................... 8

2.1. Monitoring and reporting rules .................................................................................... 8

2.2. Management and control system(s) ............................................................................. 8

2.2.1. Justification of the budget implementation method(s), the funding implementation

mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed .................. 8

2.2.2. Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up

to mitigate them............................................................................................................ 8

2.2.3. Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio between

the control costs and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the

expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure) ........................................... 8

2.3. Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities ................................................................ 9

3. ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE ............ 10

EN 2 EN

3.1. Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s)

affected ....................................................................................................................... 10

3.2. Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations ................................... 12

3.2.1. Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations.................................... 12

3.2.1.1. Appropriations from voted budget ............................................................................. 12

3.2.1.2. Appropriations from external assigned revenues ....................................................... 17

3.2.2. Estimated output funded from operational appropriations......................................... 22

3.2.3. Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations ............................... 24

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget .............................................................................. 24

3.2.3.2. Appropriations from external assigned revenues ....................................................... 24

3.2.3.3. Total appropriations ................................................................................................... 24

3.2.4. Estimated requirements of human resources.............................................................. 25

3.2.4.1. Financed from voted budget....................................................................................... 25

3.2.4.2. Financed from external assigned revenues ................................................................ 26

3.2.4.3. Total requirements of human resources ..................................................................... 26

3.2.5. Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments ................ 28

3.2.6. Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework.............................. 28

3.2.7. Third-party contributions ........................................................................................... 28

3.3. Estimated impact on revenue ..................................................................................... 29

42 DIGITAL DIMENSIONS .......................................................................................... 29

4.1. Requirements of digital relevance .............................................................................. 30

4.2. Data ............................................................................................................................ 30

4.3. Digital solutions ......................................................................................................... 31

4.4. Interoperability assessment ........................................................................................ 31

4.5. Measures to support digital implementation .............................................................. 32

EN 3 EN

1. FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

1.1. Title of the proposal/initiative

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council establishing

the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2028-2034

1.2. Policy area(s) concerned

Education and training, Youth and Sport

1.3. Objective(s)

1.3.1. General objective(s)

The general objective of the Programme is to contribute to a resilient, competitive, and

cohesive Europe by promoting high quality lifelong learning, enhancing skills and

competences for life and for jobs for all, while fostering Union values, democratic and

societal participation, solidarity, social inclusion and equal opportunities, in the EU and

beyond. TheProgramme shall be a key instrument for building the Union of Skills, developing

the European Education Area and supporting the implementation of European strategic

cooperation in the fields of education and training, including its underlying sectoral agendas.

The Programme will advance youth policy cooperation and further develop the European

dimension in sport. The objective is to foster a more inclusive, united, and robust Europe by

empowering young people, strengthening community ties, and promoting solidarity through

meaningful engagement and cooperation. Sport plays a vital role as a driver for social

inclusion, health, education, and community development. By investing in youth,

volunteering, and sport, the Programme aims to build stronger, more connected societies,

encourage civic and democratic engagement, and contribute to social cohesion at all levels.

1.3.2. Specific objective(s)

The Programme has the following specific objectives:

(a) support the improvement of education, skills and competences with

particular regard to their relevance for the labour market as well as to the

professional development and personal growth of the individual and to

their contribution to a competitive, sustainable and cohesive society;

(b) foster a sense of European identity and active citizenship, enhance

solidarity and active participation in society and democracy, inducing a

positive societal impact, greater resilience and better preparedness to

anticipate, prevent and respond to risks of different nature;

(c) foster quality, inclusion, equity, sustainability, creativity, innovation,

excellence and cross-border collaboration, strengthening Europe’s

attractiveness and competitiveness globally, across all fields of education

and training, youth and sport;

(d) engage and empower young people to acquire and develop professional

and personal competences, to participate actively in society and

democracy and connect them to the European project;

(e) support policy development, including for circulation of skills,

accelerating reforms and modernisation at systems' level, across all fields

of education and training, youth and sport, ensuring that they are more

effective, resilient and inclusive;

EN 4 EN

(f) provide young people with easily accessible opportunities for

engagement in solidarity and humanitarian activities that induce positive

societal changes in the Union and beyond (the latter through setting up

the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps), while improving and

properly validating their competences, as well as facilitating their

continuous engagement as active citizens;

(g) promote the European Sport Model by investing in grassroots sport,

especially voluntary activities, ensuring accessibility, promoting

participation, protecting integrity, supporting good governance, and

reinforcing sport’s social, educational, and community role, through

actions that focus on building a fair, inclusive, and sustainable sport

system across Europe.

1.3.3. Expected result(s) and impact

Specify the effects which the proposal/initiative should have on the beneficiaries/groups targeted.

• Improved skills and competences for jobs and for life, of participants

• Increased quality, inclusion, sustainability, innovation, excellence and cross-

border collaboration of education and training, youth and sport participating

organisations

• Acceleration of reforms and modernisation at system’s level

• Increased active participation, enhanced solidarity and European sense of

belonging among participants

1.3.4. Indicators of performance

Specify the indicators for monitoring progress and achievements.

5. The output and result indicators for the purpose of monitoring progress and

achievements of this Programme will correspond to the common indicators provided

under Regulation (EU) [XXX]* of the European Parliament and of the Council

[Performance].

1.4. The proposal/initiative relates to:

 a new action

 a new action following a pilot project / preparatory action56

☒ the extension of an existing action

 a merger or redirection of one or more actions towards another/a new action

1.5. Grounds for the proposal/initiative

1.5.1. Requirement(s) to be met in the short or long term including a detailed timeline for

roll-out of the implementation of the initiative

The Programme aims to offer learning opportunities for all notably in the form of

learning mobility, volunteering and scholarhips that will contribute to enhance skills

and key competences for all, for life and for jobs, promoting societal engagement and

56 As referred to in Article 58(2), point (a) or (b) of the Financial Regulation.

EN 5 EN

civic education, solidarity and social inclusion. The Programme also sets up the

European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. The Programme will support as well

capacity building, through cooperation between stakeholders at organisational level

and policy developments with a view to contribute to high quality life-long leanring,

foster inclusion, excellence, and innovation in education, training, youth and sport.

Subject to the entry into force of its basic act, the Programme is planned to be

implemented as of 1 st January 2028, for a duration of seven years.

1.5.2. Added value of EU involvement (it may result from different factors, e.g.

coordination gains, legal certainty, greater effectiveness or complementarities). For

the purposes of this section 'added value of EU involvement' is the value resulting

from EU action, that is additional to the value that would have been otherwise

created by Member States alone.

While Member States remain responsible for the content and organisation of their

policies in the fields concerned, the challenges identified are common to all Member

States and/or have a significant transnational dimension, requiring EU-level

solutions, coordination, and support to be effectively addressed. EU actions can

facilitate cooperation, capacity building, and mutual learning as well as cross-border

activities, ultimately optimising the potential of the concerned sectors, including in

EU external actions.

The Programme aims to enhance transnational mobility and capacity building

cooperation, as well as to support policy developments with a European dimension.

However, due to the transnational nature, high volume, and broad geographical scope

of the activities supported, as well as their strong international dimension, these

objectives cannot be adequately achieved by Member States acting alone. For

instance, cross-border learning mobility or volunteering is more complex to organise

on a bilateral basis, and difficult for individual Member States to make it accessible

to all. The Erasmus+ mid-term evaluation has demonstrated that single initiatives by

education and training, youth and sport organisations or Member States, although

effective at the national level, lack the necessary scale and volume to achieve a

European-wide impact. Furthermore, the cumulative coverage of individual country

and cross-sectoral initiatives remains limited compared to the current Erasmus+

programme. Similarly, the European Solidarity Corps evaluation confirms that the

European Solidarity Corps plays an essential role and, in some countries, is the only

alternative for youth volunteering and solidarity.

Furthermore, by extending the scope of the Programme to cover volunteering

activities, including volunteering in support of humanitarian aid operations,

Erasmus+ will offer a single-entry point to EU opportunities for young people across

the EU, including rural and remote areas, and abroad. Currently these are only

accessible via distinct schemes. Erasmus+ will therefore ensure that all interested

young people across the EU have equal opportunities to a broader variety of

activities, and that they have easier access to them. The Programme also estbalishes

the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps, a Treaty obligation.

The added value of EU funding in the policy areas covered by the Programme was

widely acknowledged by respondents to the open public consultation conducted by

the Commission for the new MFF, with a vast majority highlighting its importance.

The Programme will contribute to raise the level of basic skills and increase the

volume of skilled professionals including in key strategic sectors for EU’s

EN 6 EN

competitiveness. It will help nurture, attract and retain talents, including from third

countries. By pooling expertise and resources, capacity building and transnational

cooperation supported by the Programme will foster innovation, increase quality

teaching and help tackling Europe’s skills and talent shortages in key sectors and

territories, including in the field of STEM and the twin transitions, making Europe a

more attractive education destination for global talent.

The initiative will bring people from diverse backgrounds and countries together and

support them in engaging in volunteering activities, enabling them to experience a

period abroad, facilitating intercultural understanding, fostering a collective identity

and appreciation for values such as democracy, freedom, and human rights. For

example, the mid-term evaluations of the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps

highlight their significant impact on fostering a sense of European identity and

belonging, raising awareness of EU common values and in the case of Erasmus+, on

developing knowledge for European integration. By enabling the creation and

building of long-lasting networks of individuals and organisations, the Programme

will allow the rooting of European identity and EU values.

The Programme will foster the development, transfer, and implementation of

innovative and high quality practices in education, training, youth, and sport, and

increase the capacity of organisations to work transnationally. The Programme will

support reinforced collaboration with the private sector and innovation ecosystems,

leveraging investments in skills critical for EU’s competitiveness, resilience,

preparedness and social cohesion. It will as well drive policy progress and systemic

impact notably by acting as a test bed for approaches that will then inspire

national/regional schemes. By fostering cross-fertilisation between countries, the

Programme will help Member States progress and modernise their systems and

policies.

Furthermore, the Programme will include actions to widen access to smaller-sized

actors, supporting flexible formats and providing a gateway for grassroots

organisations and newcomers to access Union funds and gain experience in

transnational cooperation. It will also have a strong inclusion and diversity

dimension and will support the development of skills for jobs and life notably of

those with fewer opportunities.

1.5.3. Lessons learned from similar experiences in the past

The proposal draws on the long-standing experience of the previous programmes in

the field of education and training, youth, sport and volunteering.

Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps mid-term evaluations show that both

programmes deliver strong European added value for individuals, organisations and

policy, including in its international dimension, a result which cannot be matched at

national level alone.

The final evaluation of the 2014-2020 programme and the interim evaluation of the

2021-2027 programme found that Erasmus+ performs strongly across key evaluation

criteria and fulfils its objectives effectively. Both Programme generations have

proven successful in delivering a strong European added value, playing a key role in

the fields of education, training, youth and sport. Erasmus+ significantly surpasses

what could be achieved by individual countries at national or international levels. Its

benefits stem from the opportunities it provides to personal, educational and

professional development of learners and staff, to cross-border cooperation of

EN 7 EN

organisations and to policy development in the fields of education and training, youth

and sport, providing significant benefits to those to take part in the programme

compared to those who do not.

The final evaluation of the 2018-2020 programme and interim evaluation of the

2021-2027 European Solidarity Corps programme57 have found that the European

Solidarity Corps performs well across the five evaluation criteria (relevance,

efficiency, effectiveness, coherence, EU added value). The European Solidarity

Corps addresses European society’s crucial needs, especially in fostering civic

participation and promoting inclusion and diversity. The programme fosters a sense

of community, revitalising local initiatives and promoting a broader global

perspective. Participation contributes to improved personal, professional and study

skills and social and civic awareness.

At the same time, both evaluations point to some areas of improvement in terms of

design. These include expanding the reach of the programmes, easing access,

simplifying management, enhancing monitoring, strengthening synergies and

avoiding overlaps with other programmes, and increasing flexibility to address new

challenges. For instance, the evaluation of Erasmus+ found some overlap between

Erasmus+ Youth Participation activities and Solidarity projects funded under the

Corps, both supporting youth-led initiatives run by informal groups of young people.

1.5.4. Compatibility with the multiannual financial framework and possible synergies with

other appropriate instruments

The Programme is one of the funding instruments under the 2028-2034 Multiannual

financial framework and has a high degree of coherence and complementarity with

other key EU priorities and funding schemes.

The Programme will complement and reinforce actions financed through the Union's

external actions, to attract and retain global talent, enhance the EU's influence and

attractiveness on the world stage, and contribute to the preparedness of candidate

countries and potential candidates, including by promoting people-to-people contacts

and cooperation with third countries.

There is significant complementarity between the Programme and its transnational

cooperation facilitated by direct and indirect management and the nationally and

regionally tailored interventions supported by national envelopes. Indeed, the

transnational part under direct and indirect management provides shared learning,

networking and pooling resources in the fields of education and training, youth and

sport, supporting the development of quality teaching practices, networking and

modernisation, that are not achievable through national interventions alone, while the

pre-allocated national budgets support notably broad structural interventions to

address socioeconomic and territorial disparities, including rural and remote areas,

such as providing education and training infrastructure, equipment, and services,

supporting the upskilling of disadvantaged groups, or promoting employment and

entrepreneurship through training and initiating reforms.

There are strong links between Erasmus+ and the European Competitiveness Fund

and synergies are needed to help break the silos between education, research and

innovation and the labour market (and to a certain extent non-formal and informal

learning) to the ultimate benefit of competitiveness. For instance, education

57 COM(2025) 144 final, SWD(2025) 75, 1.4.2025

EN 8 EN

contributes to development of research and innovation and enables transfer of

knowledge and technology from academia to industry and business and can therefore

also support smart specialisation strategies. The upscaling and transfer of successful

practices from the educational to the research or industry domain could be facilitated

through legal provisions and implementation mechanisms ensuring flow of

knowledge among sectors with clear interlinkages.

In line with the European Preparedness Union Strategy, Erasmus+ also promotes and

preparedness, resilience, participation in democratic life and civic engagement

through a bottom-up approach, encouraging organisations and institutions to apply

for funding and foster digital and media literacy, critical thinking, engagement,

democratic citizenship learning. Volunteering is also essential in fostering a culture

of inclusive preparedness and societal resilience. The Programme is also closely

aligned and complementary to the EU instrument that contributes to address protect

fundamental rights and democracy, media and culture.

Although these programmes are supported by distinct instruments, with independent

modi operandi, different intervention logics, management modes and architecture,

their interaction can generate converging effects. Therefore, synergies will be looked

for where they are possible and bring further added value.

1.5.5. Assessment of the different available financing options, including scope for

redeployment

n/a

EN 9 EN

1.6. Duration of the proposal/initiative and of its financial impact

• Limited duration

• In effect from 01/01/2028 to 31/12/2034

• Financial impact from 2028 to 2034 for commitment appropriations and from

2028 to 2034 for payment appropriations.

1.7. Method(s) of budget implementation planned58

• Direct management by the Commission

✓ by its departments, including by its staff in the Union delegations;

✓ by the executive agencies

 Shared management with the Member States

• Indirect management by entrusting budget implementation tasks to:

✓ third countries or the bodies they have designated

–  international organisations and their agencies (to be specified)

–  the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund

–  bodies referred to in Articles 70 and 71 of the Financial Regulation

✓ public law bodies

✓ bodies governed by private law with a public service mission to the extent that

they are provided with adequate financial guarantees

–  bodies governed by the private law of a Member State that are entrusted with

the implementation of a public-private partnership and that are provided with

adequate financial guarantees

–  bodies or persons entrusted with the implementation of specific actions in the

common foreign and security policy pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on

European Union, and identified in the relevant basic act

– bodies established in a Member State, governed by the private law of a

Member State or Union law and eligible to be entrusted, in accordance with

sector-specific rules, with the implementation of Union funds or budgetary

guarantees, to the extent that such bodies are controlled by public law bodies or

by bodies governed by private law with a public service mission, and are provided

with adequate financial guarantees in the form of joint and several liability by the

controlling bodies or equivalent financial guarantees and which may be, for each

action, limited to the maximum amount of the Union support.

Comments

The Programme will be implemented through a combination of direct and indirect

management modes, an approach that has proven successful in previous Multiannual

Financial Frameworks (MFFs) and was confirmed by the Erasmus+ mid-term evaluation as a

key factor in the Programme's efficiency.

58 Details of budget implementation methods and references to the Financial Regulation may be found on

the BUDGpedia site: https://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/corp/budget/financial-rules/budget-

implementation/Pages/implementation-methods.aspx.

EN 10 EN

2. MANAGEMENT MEASURES

2.1. Monitoring and reporting rules

1. The monitoring, reporting and evaluation rules for this Programme will follow the

requirements laid down in Regulation (EU) [XXX]* of the European Parliament and

of the Council [Performance].

The Commission shall publish an implementation report for the future Erasmus+

programme no later than four years after the start of its implementation, in order to

assess the progress made towards the achievement of their objectives.

The Commission shall carry out a retrospective evaluation in accordance with Article

34(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 at the latest three years after the

programming period of the future Erasmus+ programme.

The objective is to use existing arrangements to the extent possible and to simplify,

rationalise, and reduce the administrative burden for participants (individuals and

organisations), while ensuring that sufficient information is collected to assess the

results of the Programme and to safeguard accountability. Consequently, the rules for

monitoring and reporting will be systematically established in view of their

efficiency and cost-effectiveness, based on the experience gained in the current

programme, without compromising the data needs for the purposes of evaluation.

2.2. Management and control system(s)

2.2.1. Justification of the budget implementation method(s), the funding implementation

mechanism(s), the payment modalities and the control strategy proposed

The proposed continued combination of programme management modes (direct and

indirect) is based on the positive experience of the implementation of the current

Erasmus+ programme, which has demonstrated consistently positive results

throughout successive programming periods. It builds on the existing structures, in

compliance with the principles of subsidiarity, proportionality and efficiency. The

preservation of tried and tested modalities will allow focusing on delivery and

performance, safeguard proven efficiency gains, while minimising administrative

burden. The general principle would be maintained: as a general rule, no direct

support will be given to individual beneficiaries; support will continue to be

channelled through participating organisations, which will distribute it to individual

learners or practitioners. Indirect management via National Agencies has been

confirmed by successive evaluations as the most effective management mode for

mobility and cooperation projects seecking to build capacity across all participating

countries. Direct management in contrast is effective in transversal actions at

European level thanks to economies of scale and the ability of the executive agency

EACEA to manage actions via corporate tools and procedures.

2.2.2. Information concerning the risks identified and the internal control system(s) set up

to mitigate them

The risks identified in the implementation of the current programmes fall mainly into

the following categories:

• errors derived from the inexperience of beneficiaries with the rules. This risk is

largely mitigated by using simplified costs (lump sums, flat rates and scales of

unit costs) as permitted by the Financial Regulation;

EN 11 EN

• reliability of the control chain and maintenance of the audit trail. The proposed

programme would continue to be managed by the National Agencies, with

supervisory controls provided by an Independent Audit Body as foreseen in the

Financial Regulation, as well as operational and governance supervision by the

National Authorities. The control framework that mitigates these risks is very

well established;

• specific target participants (e.g. youth or adult sectors) may not have the

necessary financial management capacity for managing Union funds, and

would be subject to additional monitoring and checks based on risk assessment.

The main simplification to mitigate the risks and to reduce error rates resulting

from the complexity of financial rules will continue to be the wide use of

grants in the form of lump sums, flat rates and scales of unit costs, and

simplified formats of actions, making the rules easy to follow, while preserving

accountability.

All entrusted entities are always responsible for the primary level of controls in order

to ensure the protection of the Union’s financial interest, while the Commission is

responsible for supervising the overall framework. This solid control system

currently in place will be maintained to control the use of Union funds for the actions

managed under indirect management by National Agencies and as well as under

direct management, in accordance with the Financial Regulation. With regard to the

Programme funds transferred to the National Agencies, the Commission shall ensure

proper coordination of its controls with the national authorities and the national

agencies, on the basis of the single audit principle and following a risk-based

analysis. While National Agencies will be in charge of primary controls of

beneficiaries, their system of internal control and compliance will continue to be

monitored and supervised by the Member States/National Authorities and audited by

an Independent Audit Body. To ensure coherence and reliability of controls at

country level, the Commission will continue to issue frequently updated control

guidance. The control system will be set up in a manner so as to ensure efficiency

and cost-effectiveness of the controls. The Commission's supervision and

performance frameworks will ensure a high level of monitoring and feedback to

inform the policy approach. The proposed programme control framework will be

complemented by the Commission's programme of Supervisory visits, financial

audits, and monitoring and implementation visits, as well as guidance activities such

as conferences, kick-off meetings, meetings of National Agencies, training courses

and webinars.

2.2.3. Estimation and justification of the cost-effectiveness of the controls (ratio between

the control costs and the value of the related funds managed), and assessment of the

expected levels of risk of error (at payment & at closure)

Regarding cost effectiveness, the Commission makes an annual estimation of the

costs of the resources and inputs required for carrying out the controls and has

estimated, in so far as possible, their benefits in terms of the amount of errors and

irregularities prevented, detected and corrected by these controls but also in terms of

non-quantifiable errors. This approach emphasises the core financial and operational

checks of the control chain.

The control strategy is based on a single integrated control framework in order to

provide reasonable assurance throughout the project cycle. The approach taken to

assess cost-effectiveness of controls is based on the logic of building blocks of

EN 12 EN

assurance as part of a global supervision strategy. The Commission differentiates the

frequency and the intensity of the controls – in view of the different risk profiles

among its current and future transactions and of the cost-effectiveness of its existing

and alternative controls, in particular as outlined to National Agencies in the

programme implementation guidance. Executive Agencies and all entrusted entities

are always responsible for the primary level of controls in order to ensure the

protection of the Union’s financial interest, while the Commission is responsible for

supervisory controls.

The Commission's estimate using the methodology of the 2024 Annual Activity

Report is that the global cost of control is 8.21%, depending on the measure used, of

the budget managed (Executive Agency's budget excluded). These costs are

proportional and cost effective given the likely risk of error if such controls were not

in place, and the requirement to ensure an error rate below 2%. Based on the

experience with the current Erasmus+ and its predecessor programmes, which have

an error rate of around 1% on a multiannual basis, the expected risk of error is less

than 2%.

2.3. Measures to prevent fraud and irregularities

The controls aimed at preventing and detecting fraud are closely aligned with those

intended to ensure the legality and regularity of the transactions (the unintentional

errors). Each year the Commission reviews all reporting from National Agencies on

possible fraud or irregularities. These cases are mainly followed up at national level

where the National Agencies have direct access to means of legal redress and referral

of fraud cases. The Commission increasingly facilitates contacts on cross-border

cases with the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) and European Public

Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

The Commission services contribute to ongoing European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF)

and European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) investigations and organise the

follow-up to completed European Anti-fraud Office investigations. Financial

prejudice to the Union's budget resulting from fraud established in final European

Anti-fraud Office case reports concerning programmes with similar funding rules

and stakeholders is relatively low. Cases are referred to European Anti-fraud Office

and to the Investigation and disciplinary Office (IDOC) as appropriate, but a

significant number of cases are followed up during the year directly with National

Agencies and National Authorities, who have direct access to the relevant judicial

and anti-fraud entities.

Commission services implementing the action have developed and implemented their

own anti-fraud strategy (AFS) since 2014, elaborated on the basis of the

methodology provided by the European Anti-fraud Office. Regularly updated, it is

supplemented with (most recently 2024), where appropriate, lower-level procedural

documents, covering how cases are referred and followed up, e.g. for exclusions and

detections in the Commission Early-detection and Exclusion System (EDES).

Given the fact that the scale of fraud within the Programme remains limited and is

largely restricted to cases of multiple project application submissions or project

leaders failing to honour their obligations, the measures in place are considered both

appropriate and proportionate.

Considering the level of fraud impact potentially faced by the proposed programme,

in particular the financial prejudice recorded by the European Anti-fraud Office, the

EN 13 EN

residual risk of fraud does not justify additional measures beyond those in the anti-

fraud strategy, and corporate initiatives such as ARACHNE+ under the 2024 recast

of the Financial Regulation. Commission services maintain close cooperation with

the European Anti-fraud Office and the European Public Prosecutor and follow the

ongoing cases closely. It is therefore possible to conclude positively on assurance in

respect of fraud risk related to the proposed programme.

EN 14 EN

3. ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL/INITIATIVE

3.1. Heading(s) of the multiannual financial framework and expenditure budget line(s) affected

New budget lines requested

In order of multiannual financial framework headings and budget lines.

Heading of

multiannual

financial

framework

Budget line Type of

expenditure Contribution

Number

Diff./Non-

diff.

from

EFTA

countries

from

candidate

countries

and

potential

candidates

from

other

third

countries

other assigned

revenue

2

06 01 01 Support expenditure for

Erasmus+

Non-diff. YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO

2

06 02 01 Education and Training Diff. YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO

2

06 02 02 Youth and Sport Diff. YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO YES/NO

EN 15 EN

3.2. Estimated financial impact of the proposal on appropriations

3.2.1. Summary of estimated impact on operational appropriations

 The proposal/initiative does not require the use of operational appropriations

• The proposal/initiative requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below

3.2.1.1. Appropriations from voted budget

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Heading of multiannual financial framework Number 2

DG EAC Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF 2028-

2034 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

Operational appropriations

Budget line

06 02 01 Education and Training

Commitments (1a) pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm

Payments (2a) pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm

Budget line

06 02 02 Youth and Sport

Commitments (1b) pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm

Payments (2b) pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm

Appropriations of an administrative nature financed from the envelope of specific programmes

Budget line

06 01 01 support expenditure for

Erasmus+

(3) pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm

TOTAL appropriations Commitments =1a+1b+3 5,261 5,440 5,625 5,819 6,019 6,224 6,439 40,827

for DG EAC Payments =2a+2b+3 pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm

EN 16 EN

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF 2028-

2034 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

TOTAL operational

appropriations

Commitments (4) pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm

Payments (5) pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm

TOTAL appropriations of an

administrative nature financed from the

envelope for specific programmes

(6) pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm

TOTAL

appropriations

under HEADING 2

Commitments =4+6 5,261 5,440 5,625 5,819 6,019 6,224 6,439 40,827

of the multiannual

financial framework Payments =5+6 pm pm pm pm pm pm pm pm

EN 17 EN

Heading of multiannual financial framework 4 ‘Administrative expenditure’59

DG: EAC Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF

2028-2034 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

 Human resources 76,189 76,189 76,189 76,189 76,189 76,189 76,189 533,323

 Other administrative expenditure 0.743 0.743 0.743 0.743 0.743 0.743 0.743 5.201

TOTAL DG EAC 76,932 76,932 76,932 76,932 76,932 76,932 76,932 538,526

TOTAL appropriations under HEADING 4 of

the multiannual financial framework

(Total

commitments =

Total payments) 76,932 76,932 76,932 76,932 76,932 76,932 76,932 538,526

59 The necessary appropriations should be determined using the annual average cost figures available on the appropriate BUDGpedia webpage.

EN 18 EN

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF 2028-

2034 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

TOTAL

appropriations under

HEADINGS 1 to 4

Commitments 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

of the multiannual

financial framework Payments 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF 2028-

2034 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

TOTAL operational

appropriations

Commitments (4) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Payments (5) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL appropriations of an

administrative nature financed from the

envelope for specific programmes

(6) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL

appropriations

under HEADING

<….>

Commitments =4+6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

of the multiannual

financial framework Payments =5+6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

EN 19 EN

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF 2028-

2034 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

TOTAL operational

appropriations

Commitments (4) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Payments (5) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL appropriations of an

administrative nature financed from the

envelope for specific programmes

(6) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL

appropriations

under HEADING

<….>

Commitments =4+6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

of the multiannual

financial framework Payments =5+6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF

2028-2034 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

• TOTAL

operational

appropriations (all

operational

headings)

Commitments (4) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Payments (5) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

• TOTAL appropriations of an

administrative nature financed from

the envelope for specific programmes

(all operational headings)

-(6) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL

appropriations

under Headings 1

to 3

Commitments =4+6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

of the multiannual

financial framework

(Reference amount)

Payments =5+6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

EN 20 EN

Heading of multiannual financial framework 4 ‘Administrative expenditure’60

EUR million (to three decimal places)

DG EAC Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF

2028-2034 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

• Human resources 76,189 76,189 76,189 76,189 76,189 76,189 76,189 533,323

• Other administrative expenditure 0.743 0.743 0.743 0.743 0.743 0.743 0.743 5.201

TOTAL DG EAC Appropriations 76,932 76,932 76,932 76,932 76,932 76,932 76,932 538,526

TOTAL appropriations under

HEADING 4 of the multiannual

financial framework

(Total

commitments

= Total

payments)

76,932

76,932

76,932

76,932

76,932

76,932

76,932

538,526

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

MFF 2028-

2034 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

TOTAL

appropriations under

HEADINGS 1 to 4

Commitments 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

of the multiannual

financial framework Payments 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

60 The necessary appropriations should be determined using the annual average cost figures available on the appropriate BUDGpedia webpage.

EN 21 EN

EN 22 EN

3.2.2. Estimated output funded from operational appropriations (not to be completed for decentralised agencies)

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)

The output and result indicators for the purpose of monitoring progress and achievements of this programme will correspond to the common

indicators provided under Regulation xxx [Performance Regulation].

Indicate

objectives and

outputs



Year 2028

Year 2029

Year 2030

Year 2031

Enter as many years as necessary to show

the duration of the impact (see Section1.6) TOTAL

OUTPUTS

Type 61

Aver

age

cost

N o

Cost N o

Cost N o

Cost N o

Cost N o

Cost N o

Cost N o

Cost Total

No

Total

cost

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No

162…

- Output

- Output

- Output

Subtotal for specific objective No

1

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE No 2 ...

- Output

Subtotal for specific objective

No 2

TOTALS

61 Outputs are products and services to be supplied (e.g. number of student exchanges financed, number of km of roads built, etc.). 62 As described in Section 1.3.2. ‘Specific objective(s)’.

EN 23 EN

3.2.3. Summary of estimated impact on administrative appropriations

 The proposal/initiative does not require the use of appropriations of an administrative nature

• The proposal/initiative requires the use of appropriations of an administrative nature, as explained below

3.2.3.1. Appropriations from voted budget

VOTED APPROPRIATIONS Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL

2028 -

2034 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

HEADING 4

Human resources

76,189

76,189

76,189

76,189

76,189

76,189

76,189

533,323

Other administrative expenditure 0.743 0.743 0.743 0.743 0.743 0.743 0.743 5.201

Subtotal HEADING 4

76,932

76,932

76,932

76,932

76,932

76,932

76,932

538,526

Outside HEADING 4

Human resources p.m p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m p.m. p.m p.m.

Other expenditure of an administrative nature* 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Subtotal outside HEADING 4

TOTAL

*Appropriations related to other expenditure of an administrative nature (ex-BA line) will be determined when the financial envelope will be disclosed

3.2.4. Estimated requirements of human resources

 The proposal/initiative does not require the use of human resources

• The proposal/initiative requires the use of human resources, as explained below

EN 24 EN

3.2.4.1. Financed from voted budget

Estimate to be expressed in full-time equivalent units (FTEs)63

VOTED APPROPRIATIONS Year Year Year Year Year Year Year

2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

 Establishment plan posts (officials and temporary staff)

20 01 02 01 (Headquarters and Commission’s Representation Offices) 36864 368 368 368 368 368 368

20 01 02 03 (EU Delegations) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

01 01 01 01 (Indirect research) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

01 01 01 11 (Direct research) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Other budget lines (specify) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

• External staff (in Full Time Equivalent unit: FTE)

20 02 01 (AC, END from the ‘global envelope’) 69 69 69 69 69 69 69

20 02 03 (AC, AL, END and JPD in the EU Delegations) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Admin. Support line [XX.01.YY.YY] [2]

- at Headquarters 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

- in EU Delegations 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

01 01 01 02 (AC, END - Indirect research) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

01 01 01 12 (AC, END - Direct research) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Other budget lines (specify) - Heading 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Other budget lines (Support administrative line of the programme) -

Outside Heading 4 20 20 20 20 20 20 20

TOTAL 457 457 457 457 457 457 457

The staff required to implement the proposal (in FTEs):

63 Please specify below the table how many FTEs within the number indicated are already assigned to the management of the action and/or can be redeployed within your DG

and what are your net needs. 64 Of which 24 FTEs for DG EMPL (same for the following years).

EN 25 EN

To be covered by current

staff available in the

Commission services

Exceptional additional staff*

To be financed under

Heading 4 or Research

To be financed from BA line To be financed from fees

Establishment plan posts 29565 73 N/A p.m

External staff (CA, SNEs,

INT)

63 6 20 p.m

Description of tasks to be carried out by:

Officials and temporary staff

External staff

65 Of which 24 FTEs for DG EMPL.

EN 26 EN

3.2.5. Overview of estimated impact on digital technology-related investments

TOTAL Digital and IT

appropriations

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL MFF

2028 - 2034

2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

HEADING 4

IT expenditure (corporate) 3,747 3,747 3,747 3,747 3,747 3,747 3,747 26,232

Subtotal HEADING 4 3,747 3,747 3,747 3,747 3,747 3,747 3,747 26,232

Outside HEADING 4

Policy IT expenditure on

operational programmes 57,000 57,0000 57,0000 57,0000 57,0000 57,0000 57,0000 399,0000

Subtotal outside HEADING 4 57,000 57,000 57,0000 57,0000 57,0000 57,0000 57,0000 399,000

TOTAL 60,747 60, 60,747 60 60,747 60 60,747 60 60,747 60 60,747 60 60,747 425,232

3.2.6. Compatibility with the current multiannual financial framework

The initiative is consistent with the proposal for the MFF 2028-2034.

The proposal/initiative:

 can be fully financed through redeployment within the relevant heading of the multiannual financial framework (MFF)

Explain what reprogramming is required, specifying the budget lines concerned and the corresponding amounts. Please provide an excel table

in the case of major reprogramming.

 requires use of the unallocated margin under the relevant heading of the MFF and/or use of the special instruments as defined in the MFF

Regulation

EN 27 EN

Explain what is required, specifying the headings and budget lines concerned, the corresponding amounts, and the instruments proposed to be

used.

 requires a revision of the MFF

Explain what is required, specifying the headings and budget lines concerned and the corresponding amounts.

3.2.7. Third-party contributions

The proposal/initiative:

• does not provide for co-financing by third parties

 provides for the co-financing by third parties estimated below:

Appropriations in EUR million (to three decimal places)

Year Year Year Year Year Year Year

Total 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034

Specify the co-financing

body

TOTAL appropriations

co-financed

3.3. Estimated impact on revenue

• The proposal/initiative has no financial impact on revenue.

 The proposal/initiative has the following financial impact:

–  on own resources

–  on other revenue

EN 28 EN

–  please indicate, if the revenue is assigned to expenditure lines

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Budget revenue line:

Appropriations available

for the current financial

year

Impact of the proposal/initiative66

Year 2028 Year 2029 Year 2030 Year 2031 Year 2032 Year 2033 Year 2034

Article ………….

For assigned revenue, specify the budget expenditure line(s) affected.

[…]

Other remarks (e.g. method/formula used for calculating the impact on revenue or any other information).

[…]

66 As regards traditional own resources (customs duties, sugar levies), the amounts indicated must be net amounts, i.e. gross amounts after deduction of 20% for collection

costs.

EN 29 EN

4. DIGITAL DIMENSIONS

4.1. Requirements of digital relevance

Reference to the

requirement Requirement description

Actors affected or

concerned by the

requirement

High-level

Processes Categories

Article 20.9

The Commission shall deliver the necessary

information technology systems to support

the implementation of the Programme

objectives laid down in Article 3, including

for indirect management.

European Commission,

National Authorities,

National Agencies;

Beneficiaries;

Participants

Programme

Support;

Indirect Grant

Management

Digital solutions

Recital 33

User-friendly online platforms and tools for

virtual cooperation can play an important

role in supporting the delivery of education

and training and youth policy in Europe and

beyond. To increase the use of virtual

cooperation activities, the Programme

should support more systematic and

coherent use of online platforms. It should

as well facilitate and support mobility

processes through digitalisation.

European Commission,

National Authorities,

National Agencies;

Beneficiaries;

Participants

Programme

Support Digital solutions

Article 7, footnote 45 The Programme shall support […]

Programme implementation including

synergies with, and support to other Union

policies and programmes, online platforms,

tools for virtual cooperation and tools to

facilitate learning mobility (including

European Commission,

National Authorities,

National Europass

Centres, European

Qualifications

Framework National

Programme

support

Digital solutions

and data

EN 30 EN

support to the common framework and tools

for the provision of better services for skills

and qualifications (Europass))

Coordination Points;

Euroguidance;

Participants; Individuals

4.2. Data

High-level description of the data in scope and any related standards/specifications

Type of data Reference(s) to the requirement Standard and/or specification (if applicable)

Countries, organisations,

budget, participants and

priorities per project (where

applicable per key Action)

Article 20.9 Commission monitoring and reporting tools including eGrants for

the centralised management

Countries, organisations,

budget, participants and

priorities per project (where

applicable per key Action)

Article 20.9 Commission monitoring and reporting tools including eGrants for

the centralised management

Countries, organisations,

budget, participants and

priorities per project (where

applicable per key Action)

Performance Regulation

Chapter XX: Article XX

Countries, organisations,

budget, participants and

priorities per project (where

applicable per key Action)

Performance regulation:

Chapter XX: Article XX

Europass registered user

profiles, related to careers

and skills (incl. skills self-

Article 7, footnote 35 European Learning Model (ELM)

Europass candidate profile

EN 31 EN

assessments, libraries,

wallets, digital credentials

for learning…), learning

opportunities, accreditations

of educational institutions

Alignment with the European Data Strategy

Explain how the requirement(s) are aligned with the European Data Strategy

Quality of data to be established through a dedicated quality dashboard to ensure single version of the truth.

As regards Europass: all data published in the Qualification Dataset Register (QDR) is published on the Open Data portal: ELM (European

Learning Model), Learning opportunities, Accredited organisations and Qualifications.

Alignment with the once-only principle

Explain how the once-only principle has been considered how the possibility to reuse existing data explored

Dashboards established are the source of traceability and re-usability of the data available from the programme implementation. Data comes from

the project lifecycle tools/documents (eg application forms, final reports, participant surveys)

Explain how newly created data is findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable, and meets high-quality standards

Traceability and re-usability of the data available from the programme implementation will be ensured. The data will be recorded via the project

lifecycle documents and made accessible, including through the visualisation capacity of the Single Gateway portal to be established under the

Performance Regulation.

Europass data on learning opportunities, qualifications and accreditation will be available as open data on the open data portal of the European

Union.

EN 32 EN

Data flows

Type of data Reference(s)

to the

requirement

(s)

Actor who

provides the

data

Actor who

receives the

data

Trigger for the data

exchange

Frequency (if applicable)

Countries, organisations,

budget, participants and

priorities per project, project

results (where applicable per

key Action)

Article 13

and

Preamble

paragraph 56

Performance

Regulation

Article XX

and article

XX

Beneficiaries

, Programme

Desk

General public

Commission

European

Parliament

Council of the

European

Union

Performance Regulation

Article XX and article XX.

(monitoring ) and article XX

(implementation report and

retrospective evaluations).

Expenditure tracking,

programme performance

reporting and monitoring of

implementation and results

Performance Regulation

Article XX (monitoring) and

article XX (implementation

report and retrospective

evaluations).

Annual reporting

Europass registered user

profiles (ePortfolio IT

module)

Article 7,

footnote 35

Individuals Individuals Registration of users on

Europass (ePortfolio)

Upon users’ needs

Learning opportunities,

accreditations of educational

institutions (Qualification

Dataset Register IT module)

Article 7,

footnote 35

National

authorities

National

Authorities,

Education and

Training

Providers,

Individuals

Proposals during Europass

Advisory Group meetings,

trigger upon national

authorities update

ad-hoc basis (requested at

least once a year)

EN 33 EN

4.3. Digital solutions

Digital

solution

Reference(s)

to the

requirement(s)

Main mandated

functionalities

Responsible

body

How is

accessibility

catered for?

How is

reusability

considered?

Use of AI technologies (if

applicable)

Digital

solution #1 -

Indirect Grant

Management

Platform

Article 20.9 Management of

the indirect grants

European

Commission

In accordance with

common

accessibility

principles.

// The platform shall leverage

the use artificial intelligence

where relevant and adhering

with the precautionary

principle.

Digital

solution #2-

Platform(s) to

support the

programme

Article 20.9

and Recital 33

Programme

Support

NB: Such

platform(s) will be

identified or

confirmed during

the

implementation of

the programme

European

Commission

In accordance with

common

accessibility

principles.

// The platform shall leverage

the use artificial intelligence

where relevant and adhering

with the precautionary

principle

Digital

Solution #3 –

Programme

Analytics -

Data and AI

Platform

Article 20.9

and Recital 33

Programme

Support

European

Commission

In accordance with

common

accessibility

principles.

// The platform shall leverage

the use artificial intelligence

where relevant and adhering

with the precautionary

principle

Digital

Solution #4 –

Article 7,

footnote 35

Labour mobility

programme

support: user

European

Commission

In accordance with

common

accessibility

Europass

(ePortfolio) is

an

The platform shall leverage

the use of artificial

intelligence where relevant

EN 34 EN

Europass profiles incl. skills

assessment and

career

management,

learning

opportunities,

accreditation of

institutions

principles. interoperability

platform for

European CV

format

and adhering with the

precautionary principle

EN 35 EN

Digital solution #1 - Indirect Grant Management Platform

Digital and/or sectorial policy (when these are

applicable)

Explanation on how it aligns

AI Act When leveraging AI, the European Commission will ensure the compliance with

the AI Act.

EU Cybersecurity framework Without prejudice to Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the European Commission shall

ensure the security, integrity, authenticity and confidentiality of the data collected

and stored for the purpose of this regulation.

eIDAS When appropriate, the authentication will rely on EU login which implements

eIDAS regulation.

Single Digital Gateway and IMI Not Applicable

Digital solution #2- Platform(s) to support the programme

Digital and/or sectorial policy (when these are

applicable)

Explanation on how it aligns

AI Act When leveraging AI, the European Commission will ensure the compliance with

the AI Act.

EU Cybersecurity framework Without prejudice to Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the European Commission shall

ensure the security, integrity, authenticity and confidentiality of the data collected

and stored for the purpose of this regulation.

EN 36 EN

eIDAS When appropriate, the authentication will rely on EU login which implements

eIDAS regulation.

Single Digital Gateway and IMI Not Applicable

EN 37 EN

Digital solution #3- Programme Analytics - Data and AI Platform

Digital and/or sectorial policy (when these are

applicable)

Explanation on how it aligns

AI Act When leveraging AI, the European Commission will ensure the compliance with

the AI Act.

EU Cybersecurity framework Without prejudice to Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the European Commission shall

ensure the security, integrity, authenticity and confidentiality of the data collected

and stored for the purpose of this regulation.

eIDAS When appropriate, the authentication will rely on EU login which implements

eIDAS regulation.

Single Digital Gateway and IMI Not Applicable

Digital solution #4 - EUROPASS

Digital and/or sectorial policy (when these are

applicable)

Explanation on how it aligns

AI Act When leveraging AI, the European Commission will ensure the compliance with

the AI Act.

EU Cybersecurity framework Without prejudice to Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the European Commission shall

ensure the security, integrity, authenticity and confidentiality of the data collected

and stored for the purpose of this regulation.

EN 38 EN

eIDAS Europass uses EU login authentication, which implements eIDAS regulation.

Single Digital Gateway and IMI N/A

Others N/A

4.4. Interoperability assessment

Digital public

service or category

of digital public

services

Description Reference(s) to the

requirement(s)

Other interoperability solution(s)

Europass registered

user profiles, related

to careers and skills

(incl. skills self-

assessments,

libraries, wallets,

digital credentials

for learning…)

Supports users to create a profile based on the European

Europass profile format.

Helps users identify, document, and present their skills

and competences using structured tools, based on the

European Classification for Skills and Occupations

(ESCO)

Offers self-assessment tools for languages and other

soft skills.

Article 7, footnote

35

Euraxess, EURES, HR transformation

program tools

Job & learning

opportunity

recommender

Provides access to job and course listings across

Europe. Interoperability with EURES platform: Jobs are

provided through the EURES platform.

Europass profiles can be exported to the EURES

Article 7, footnote

35

EURES

EN 39 EN

platform to be found by EURES advisors and

employers.

Creation and storage

of Digital

Credentials for

Learning (e.g.

Europass mobility

certificates)

Enables education and training institutions to issue

credentials related to learning in a standardised, trusted

format, implementing the European Learning Model

(ELM).

Receiving and sharing digital credentials in the field of

learning that are verifiable and interoperable across

countries.

Article 7, footnote

35

EU Digital Identity Wallet

W3C Verifiable Credential standard

Transparency of

qualifications

Supports transparency of qualifications and skills across

EU Member States, EEA countries, candidates

countries, potential candidates countries

Eases mobility of learners, jobseekers, and volunteers

by providing transparent, comparable information.

Article 7, footnote

35

Digital public service #1 - Europass

Assessment Measure(s) Potential remaining barriers (if applicable)

Alignment with existing digital and

sectorial policies

Please list the applicable digital and

sectorial policies identified

Europass Decision - 2018/646 N/A

Organisational measures for a

smooth cross-border digital public

Europass and EQF networks:

- Europass Advisory Group

N/A

EN 40 EN

services delivery

Please list the governance measures

foreseen

- National Europass Centres

- EQF Advisory Group

Measures taken to ensure a shared

understanding of the data

Please list such measures

Publication of datasets:

- ELM browser

- Open Data portal

N/A

Use of commonly agreed open

technical specifications and

standards

Please list such measures

Data models:

- Europass CV format

- ELM (European Learning model)

- ESCO (European Classification for Skills

and Occupations)

- EFSS (EURES Functional Standards and

Specifications)

N/A

4.5. Measures to support digital implementation

High-level description of measures supporting digital implementation

Description of the measure Reference(s) to the

requirement(s)

Commission

role

(if applicable)

Actors to be

involved

(if applicable)

Expected timeline

(if applicable)

Europass Decision - 2018/646 Article 7 footnote 35 Solution

Supplier,

Management

and Chairing of

Europass

Advisory

Group, Europass

national centres

Already implemented

EN 41 EN

the Europass

Advisory Group

    Resolutsiooni liik: Riigikantselei resolutsioon Viide: Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium /  / ; Riigikantselei /  / 2-5/25-01474

Resolutsiooni teema: “Erasmus+” 2028-2034 programm

Adressaat: Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium Ülesanne: Tulenevalt Riigikogu kodu- ja töökorra seaduse § 152` lg 1 p 2 ning Vabariigi Valitsuse reglemendi § 3 lg 4 palun valmistada ette Vabariigi Valitsuse seisukoha ja otsuse eelnõu järgneva algatuse kohta, kaasates seejuures olulisi huvigruppe ja osapooli:

- Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2028-2034, and repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/817 and (EU) 2021/888, COM(2025) 549.

EISi toimiku nr: 25-0445

Tähtaeg: 21.11.2025

Adressaat: Kultuuriministeerium, Rahandusministeerium Ülesanne: Palun esitada oma sisend Haridus- ja Teadusministeeriumile seisukohtade kujundamiseks antud eelnõu kohta (eelnõude infosüsteemi (EIS) kaudu).

Tähtaeg: 05.09.2025

Lisainfo: Eelnõu on kavas arutada valitsuse 04.12.2025 istungil ja Vabariigi Valitsuse reglemendi § 6 lg 6 kohaselt sellele eelneval nädalal (26.11.2025) EL koordinatsioonikogus. Esialgsed materjalid EL koordinatsioonikoguks palume esitada hiljemalt 21.11.2025.

Kinnitaja: Merli Vahar, Euroopa Liidu asjade direktori asetäitja Kinnitamise kuupäev: 06.08.2025 Resolutsiooni koostaja: Elen Nurme [email protected], 693 5201  

.

31.07.2025

Ettepanek: Erasmus+ (COM (2025) 549)

Otsuse ettepanek koordinatsioonikogule

Kujundada seisukoht

Kaasvastutaja sisendi tähtpäev: 5.09.2025

KOKi esitamise tähtpäev: 26.11.2025

VV esitamise tähtpäev: 4.12.2025

Subsidiaarsuse tähtpäev: -

Seisukoha valitsusse toomise alus ja põhjendus

 Algatuse vastuvõtmisega kaasneks oluline majanduslik või sotsiaalne mõju (RKKTS § 152¹ lg 1 p 2).

Vastutav ministeerium: Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium

Kaasvastutajad: Kultuuriministeerium, Rahandusministeerium

Sisukokkuvõte

Euroopa Komisjon avaldas 16.07.2025 määruse eelnõu (COM (2025) 549) uue “Erasmus+” programmi kohta aastateks 2028-2034, millega reguleeritakse EL toetuse tingimused hariduse, noorte, koolituse ja spordi valdkonnas ning mis integreerib praeguse Euroopa Solidaarsuskorpuse meetmed. Määruse eelnõuga sätestatakse programmi eesmärgid, osalemise tingimused, eelarve ja rahastusreeglid.

Ettepanek toob kaasa lihtsustamise – taotlemine muutub vähem bürokraatlikuks tänu ühtlustatud rahastamismudelitele ja akrediteerimissüsteemidele. Noortevaldkonnas luuakse ühtne sisenemispunkt, ühendades senise Euroopa Solidaarsuskorpuse. Programm tugevdab rahvusvahelist mõõdet, hõlmates koostööd ja liikuvust ka kandidaatriikidega, ning on strateegiliselt joondatud ELi prioriteetidega, nagu rohepööre, digipööre, oskuste arendamine ja demokraatlik osalus.

Eesmärgid

Programmi meetmed on jaotatud kahte sambasse: I õpivõimalused kõigile ja II võimekuse tõstmise toetamine.

I Õpivõimalused kõigile: toetatakse õpirännet kõigis valdkondades, noorte vabatahtlikku tegevust ja talendiarenduse võimalusi. Soovitakse laiendada õpirännet, pakkudes seda

2

senisest nooremas vanuses, mil kujunevad välja väärtushinnangud. Samuti soovitakse toetada õpinguid kindlates strateegilistes valdkondades (Erasmus+ stipendium) ning koondatakse ka Erasmus Mundus stipendium ja Jean Monnet kõrgharidusalased, sh haridusasutuste tegevused selle samba alla.

II Võimekuse tõstmise toetamine: sisaldab organisatsioonide ja institutsioonide vaheliste koostöö projektide toetamist ja poliitikakujundamise tuge.

Ühtse põhimõttena peab programm arvestama kaasamise ja mitmekesisuse eesmärke ja jõudma meetmetega vähemate võimalustega osalejateni.

Programmi eelarvet on praegusega võrreldes ligi kahekordistatud, see on 40,83 miljardit eurot. Nähakse ette ka lisarahastuse võimalus teistest instrumentidest. Fondi rakendatakse nii keskse kui kaudse juhtimise kaudu. Kaudse juhtimise puhul on toetuste andmise kriteeriumiks elanikkonna suurus, elukallidus, pealinnade vahelised kaugused, tulemuslikkuse näitajad. Täpsemad kriteeriumid pannakse paika tööprogrammides. Riigid peavad määrama programmi rakendamiseks eraldi riikliku agentuuri, kelle kaudu saab olema rakendatud suur osa fondi eelarvest.

Kas EL algatus reguleerib karistusi või haldustrahve? Ei

Kas nähakse ette uue asutuse loomine (järelevalvelised või muud asutused)? Vajab analüüsi

Kas lahenduse rakendamine vajab IT-arendusi? Vajab analüüsi

Mõju ja sihtrühm

Algatus mõjutab haridus- ja teadusvaldkonda, noortevaldkonda ja mitteformaalset õppimist, samuti spordivaldkonda (alaliidud, klubid, ühendused), kohalikke omavalitsusi ja maakondlikke arenduskeskusi, kes tegelevad piirkondliku hariduse ja noorsootöö arendamisega.

Kaasamine

Kaasata kõik asjassepuutuvad partnerid ja huvirühmad, sealhulgas haridus-, spordi- ja teadusasutused, üldhariduskoolide ja kutsekoolide esindusorganisatsioonid, spordialaliidud ja -ühendused, noortevaldkond ja mitteformaalse õppimise partnerid, Eesti Noorteühenduste Liit, HARNO.