More money, less youth: The EU Commission's new Erasmus+ proposal - no real youth funding for the future

Here we present three important proposed changes and categorise their impact

1. Erasmus + Youth exists alongside the much larger areas of formal education and sport in the Erasmus + programme. The current Erasmus+ programme regulation for 2021-2027 contains a separate chapter on youth. This youth chapter provides for 10.3% of the Erasmus+ budget to be used specifically for the youth sector - including youth organisations and non-formal education initiatives. It forms the basis for supporting the entire youth sector - from the local to the European level. The European Commission's new proposal for the Erasmus+ regulation would remove this youth chapter and the binding commitment of funds to the youth sector. This jeopardises the independence of the Erasmus+ Youth programme.
2. The draft Multiannual Financial Framework provides for a budget increase from the current EUR 26bn to EUR 40.8bn. An increase of 50% in the EU youth programmes for the years 2028-2034 does not meet the needs and could become a de facto cut. Inflation is a major factor in the calculation of needs-based funding. Viewed over seven years, the proposed increase of 50% would already require a large part of the increase to compensate for inflation. In addition, the European Solidarity Corps (ESK), which is an independent programme with its own budget in the current funding period, will be transferred to the Erasmus + budget. This would require one billion of the Erasmus + Youth funds. If the ESK is integrated and the inflation adjustment is taken into account, an increase of 50% will be used up and will be far removed from the goal of reaching more young people with the Erasmus + Youth programme. The European Youth Forum (YFJ) is therefore calling for the budget to be increased fivefold - to EUR 130bn. - so that quality youth work can continue to be carried out that reaches young people regardless of their social status.
3. The specific objectives of the Erasmus+ regulation were clearly formulated in favour of labour market-oriented skills. Although the programme implicitly has a positive impact on young people's skills, Erasmus+ Youth is not a labour market policy instrument. Its objectives are based on values such as inclusion, cooperation and lifelong learning. If the educational and democratic objectives are equated with formal skills acquisition, young people are perceived with a focus on the future labour force - not as active citizens with a shaping role in society. This undermines the spirit of inclusive learning and community empowerment - and could ultimately make it even more difficult for youth organisations to access Erasmus+.

In our view, the abolition of the stand-alone youth chapter, the lack of a binding budget commitment for youth, the planned merger with the European Solidarity Corps (ESK) and the stronger focus on labour market policy represent a step backwards - especially with regard to participation, inclusion and the empowerment of young people.

Now that the Commission's proposal has been published, negotiations between the EU Member States and the European Parliament on the final version will begin. In order to save the independent youth sector and continue to support young people, we call for the implementation of the DBJR demands, which can be found here:

Position: Making the EU's multiannual financial framework youth-friendly