Erasmus+

Erasmus+ is the EU Programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport for the period 2014-20201 . Education, training, youth and sport can make a major contribution to help tackle socio-economic changes, the key challenges that Europe will be facing until the end of the decade and to support the implementation of the European policy agenda for growth, jobs, equity and social inclusion.

 

The Erasmus+ Programme is designed to support Programme Countries' efforts to efficiently use the potential of Europe’s talent and social assets in a lifelong learning perspective, linking support to formal, non-formal and informal learning throughout the education, training and youth fields. The Programme also enhances the opportunities for cooperation and mobility with Partner Countries, notably in the fields of higher education and youth.

In accordance with one of the new elements introduced in the Lisbon Treaty, Erasmus+ also supports activities aiming at developing the European dimension in sport, by promoting cooperation between bodies responsible for sports. The Programme promotes the creation and development of European networks, providing opportunities for cooperation among stakeholders and the exchange and transfer of knowledge and know-how in different areas relating to sport and physical activity. This reinforced cooperation will notably have positive effects in developing the potential of Europe’s human capital by helping reduce the social and economic costs of physical inactivity.

The Programme supports actions, cooperation and tools consistent with the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy and its flagship initiatives, such as Youth on the Move and the Agenda for new skills and jobs. The Programme also contributes to achieve the objectives of the Education and Training Strategic Framework for European cooperation in Education and Training and of the European Youth Strategy through the Open Methods of Coordination.

The Erasmus+ Programme shall contribute to the achievement of:

  • the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy, including the headline education target;
  • the objectives of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020), including the corresponding benchmarks;
  • the sustainable development of Partner Countries in the field of higher education;
  • the overall objectives of the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018);
  • the objective of developing the European dimension in sport, in particular grassroots sport, in line with the EU work plan for sport;
  • the promotion of European values in accordance with Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union.

 

In order to achieve its objectives, the Erasmus+ Programme implements the following Actions:

  1. Key Action 1 – Mobility of individuals
  2. Key Action 2 – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices
  3. Key Action 3 – Support for policy reform
  4. Jean Monnet Activities
  5. Sport

Erasmus+ website: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/node_en

More information: European Union, Erasmus+ Programme Guide, Version 1 (2017): 20/10/2016