HE sector demands €60 billion in EU funding for Erasmus+

European higher education sector organisations have issued a joint statement calling on member states, the European Parliament and the European Commission to ensure an allocation of at least €60 billion (US$70 billion) for Erasmus+ from 2028 to 2034 during the ongoing negotiations on the European Union’s next long-term budget or multiannual financial framework.

The statement says, that as highlighted in the Draghi report, over the coming decade Europe needs “significantly more talent that can work together across borders, particularly in strategic sectors and at high skill levels”.

“In this context, investing in people – through higher education exchange and collaboration – is central to Europe’s future prosperity, competitiveness and resilience, as reflected in the European Education Area, the Union of Skills and the Competitiveness Compass.”

The statement warns that underinvestment in education would undermine the EU’s own political objectives, and Europe can only achieve its ambitions in education, skills and talent if Erasmus+ is “ambitiously resourced”.

“Therefore, we welcome the European Commission’s efforts, under the leadership of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, to secure an increased budget for Erasmus+ in a highly constrained financial environment.”

The organisations say the proposed allocation of €40.8 billion for 2028 to 2034 represents a “step in the right direction, recognising the programme’s value and political importance”.

But the European Parliament’s call to triple the Erasmus+ budget compared to the period 2021 to 2027, as well as the sector’s experience from the current programme and a wide range of new challenges and ambitions articulated at the EU level, “demonstrate that a higher level of investment (at least €60 billion) is needed”.

The statement is signed by 17 organisations, between them representing thousands of higher education institutions and millions of students.

They include the European University Association, CESAER (non-profit association of universities of science and technology), the Coimbra Group, the Erasmus Student Network, the European Students’ Union, the European Association for the Applied Sciences in Higher Education (EURASHE), the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, the Academic Cooperation Association, the AURORA network, the European Association for International Education, the European Consortium of Innovative Universities, the European University Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the League of European Research Universities, the Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA), the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED) and the Young European Research Universities Network.

Proven impact

They say Erasmus+ is one of Europe’s most tangible success stories, and its contribution to citizens’ lives and to Europe’s future needs investment that matches its proven impact.

“For nearly 40 years, this popular flagship programme has empowered millions of learners, strengthened institutional cooperation, deepened European integration and fostered global outreach.

“At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, Erasmus+ delivers long-term returns in skills, employability, innovation capacity and civic engagement.

“Few EU programmes combine such broad public support with such clear and measurable societal impact. Erasmus+ contributes directly to developing a highly skilled, mobile and adaptable workforce, strengthens Europe’s knowledge base and enhances societal cohesion and democratic resilience.”

The organisations warn that the proposed Erasmus+ budget put forward on 16 July 2025 by the European Commission would barely maintain the level of activities in 2027, once inflation and rising costs, the integration of the European Solidarity Corps and additional responsibilities are taken into account.

“In practice, this would leave very limited scope to expand access, improve quality and deliver on newly agreed priorities.”

These priorities include mobility targets endorsed by member states in the council recommendation “Europe on the Move”, alongside commitments to inclusive learning mobility and talent attraction under the Union of Skills agenda.

They also include the consolidation of the European Universities Initiative and the Centres of Vocational Excellence, plus enhanced inclusion of learners with fewer opportunities, and new actions such as scholarships in strategic fields.

“Erasmus+ is one of the EU’s most cost-effective instruments. In a context of competing policy priorities, it stands out as a programme where relatively modest additional investment delivers long-term returns across multiple EU objectives, from competitiveness and skills to cohesion, inclusion and global engagement,” the statement says.

The organisations argue that a budget of at least €60 billion would allow Erasmus+ to serve Europe’s geopolitical priorities by promoting it as an attractive destination for talent and building sustainable partnerships with institutions worldwide, in close interplay with the Global Europe programme.

‘Concerted investment’ needed

Welcoming the sector’s clear call for investment in the programme ahead of a key debate in the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets on 15 January, EUA Secretary General Amanda Crowfoot said that when all factors, including inflation and new priorities, are taken into account, the proposed Erasmus+ budget for 2028-2034 would at best allow the programme to continue as it is.

“It would not be able to fund enhanced and additional activities to underpin the Union of Skills and the European Education Area, as proposed by the European Commission.

She said this means that there will not be enough to pay for more inclusive learning mobility nor properly funded university alliances, let alone for the new scholarships in strategy priority fields.

“Education can make an invaluable contribution to the EU’s competitiveness agenda, but this requires concerted investment.”

Jan Palmowski, secretary-general of The Guild, said at a time when Europe is increasingly challenged economically and geopolitically, the EU must invest in future generations by boosting one of its most successful programmes, Erasmus+.

“This is critical not just for our competitiveness. Our economic position is also intertwined with the international partners we can rely on, which Erasmus+ strengthens in unique ways, not least through strong interconnections with the Global Europe programme that extends its impact in lower- and middle-income countries.”

Ivana Didak, The Guild’s head of higher education policy, said: “Providing high-quality education by scaling up pedagogical innovation will be one of the key tasks of the sector in the coming years. And if we really want ‘Erasmus+ for all’ in the long term, we must increase the funding for the core features of the programme.”