Erasmus+ 2023 Annual Work Programme: Commission increases annual budget, with a focus on learners and staff from Ukraine
Today, the Commission has adopted a revision of the Erasmus+ Annual Work Programme for 2023. The overall budget of the programme for this year has been revised upwards to a new total of €4.43 billion, the highest annual financial envelope ever reached by the Erasmus+ programme.
The increased budget will overall reinforce the Erasmus+priorities on inclusion, active citizenship and democratic participation, and on green and digital transitions in the EU and internationally.
The revised work programme includes a €100 million frontload from the 2027 Erasmus+ budget, to support projects that promote educational activities and facilitate the integration of people fleeing the war in Ukraine into their new learning environments, as well as activities supporting organisations, learners and staff in Ukraine. The anticipated funds will reinforce activities put in place for Ukrainians fleeing the war through additional support for beneficiary organisations of the Erasmus+. Funded activities may range from linguistic and cultural integration courses, language learning tools, addressed to educators or learners, to scholarships or general financial support in all Erasmus+ sectors for learners and educators.
The international dimension of Erasmus+ was notably strengthened with a budget increase of €31 million, which will be used to reinforce mobility projects and capacity building in higher education in support of international cooperation projects. In 2023, this action will also support a structural reform project aimed at the creation of an open education digital environment, which would offer quality education and training to students enrolled in Ukrainian Higher Education Institutions, for those fleeing from Ukraine or internally displaced students. It would also provide educational opportunities for the wider Ukrainian community abroad, based on cooperation between Ukrainian and other European universities.
Still in 2023, following up on the 2022 European Year of Youth, the Erasmus+ programme continues to ensure that the voices of the youth are heard in the EU and beyond, especially through an increase in youth activities funded via Erasmus+. At the same time, activities supported under the programme continue feeding into the EU’s commitment to upskilling and reskilling, thereby providing a valuable contribution to the 2023 the European Year of Skills.
Based on open calls for project applications, any public or private body active in the fields of education, training, youth and sport can apply for funding, with the help of Erasmus+ National Agencies based in all EU Member States and third countries associated to the programme, and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency.
There are several rounds for applications under the Erasmus+ general call for proposals. The next one, focussing on cooperation partnerships with an additional priority on learners, educators and staff from Ukraine, will open on 22 March 2023.
Background
Created more than 35 years ago, Erasmus+ is one of the most emblematic EU programmes and over 13 million people have participated in the programme so far. With a total budget available for Erasmus+ from 2021 to 2027 amounting to €26.2 billion, complemented with about €2.2 billion from EU’s external instruments, the programme is set to support even more participants and ideas in Europe and beyond.
The entire Erasmus+ programme focuses on four key priorities: inclusion and diversity, digital transformation, environment and fight against climate change, and participation in democratic life. Organisations and participants with fewer opportunities are at the heart of Erasmus+. The programme therefore keeps on supporting participants’ inclusion mechanisms and dedicated resources to remove any barriers to their participation.