Subject: Educational cooperation between the European Union and the United States
In its 26 March 20091and 13 June 20132resolutions on transatlantic relations, Parliament stressed that ‘cultural exchanges though educational programmes are essential to developing common values and, therefore, to building bridges between the Atlantic Basin partners,’ and it underlined ‘the need to increase exchanges among students, academics and other civil society actors from both sides so as to ensure that present and future generations gain mutual understanding and remain committed to this partnership’.
The 10 March 20233Joint Statement by President Biden and President von der Leyen includes the following paragraph:
‘Recognizing our shared history as well as our joint visions for the future, we believe that people to people exchanges strengthen the transatlantic partnership, especially for younger generations. We will discuss how to deepen our cooperation.’
In view of the above:
1. What plans does the Commission have for the cultural and academic exchanges with the United States that are so important to ensure solid transatlantic relations in future?
2. How does the Commission intend to work with the US Government to boost the number of transatlantic student exchanges, especially among young people?
Submitted: 22.3.2023
1 European Parliament resolution of 26 March 2009 on the state of transatlantic relations in the aftermath of the
US elections (2008/2199(INI))
2 European Parliament resolution of 13 June 2013 on the role of the EU in promoting a broader transatlantic
partnership (2012/2287(INI))
3 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_23_1613.
Answer given by Vice-President Schinas on behalf of the European Commission (23 June 2023)
The Commission agrees that people-to-people exchanges represent a major opportunity for gaining mutual understanding.
The Erasmus+ Programme (4) has offered opportunities for Europeans to study in third countries including the United States (US), and for European organisations to host young people from the US since 2014 — with Erasmus Mundus offering scholarships for US students since 2004.
Under the Erasmus+ Programme 2021-2027 (5), a dedicated regional budget will bring around 3 750 US/Canadian students and staff to Europe and send roughly the same numbers of Europeans across the Atlantic.
Since 2021, European universities are allowed to use up to 20% of their intra EU budget for outbound mobility to third countries, including the US.
The programme also offers students new possibilities to undertake blended mobilities, which combine both, in-person and online studies.
Since 2014, Erasmus+ has supported over 6 600 short-term mobility exchanges of students and academic staff from both sides of the Atlantic and offered 501 Erasmus Mundus Joint Master scholarships to US students in Europe, and 159 to Canadians.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (6) funded 1 136 research-focused projects with the US under Horizon 2020 (2014-2020) (7) and so far 224 under Horizon Europe (2021-2027) (8). These projects include 185 Joint Doctoral Programmes and 3 630 doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and research staff moving both ways.
1 ∙ ⸱ European Parliament resolution of 26 March 2009 on the state of transatlantic relations in the aftermath of the US elections (2008/2199(INI))
2 ∙ ⸱ European Parliament resolution of 13 June 2013 on the role of the EU in promoting a broader transatlantic partnership (2012/2287(INI))
3 ∙ ⸱ https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_23_1613.
4 ∙ ⸱ Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing ‘Erasmus+’: the Union programme for education,
training, youth and sport and repealing Decisions No 1719/2006/EC, No 1720/2006/EC and No 1298/2008/EC. 5 ∙ ⸱ 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.
6 ∙ ⸱ Commission Implementing Decision amending Commission Implementing Decision C(2021)1940 on the adoption of the work programme for 2021-2022 within
the framework of the Specific Programme implementing Horizon Europe — the framework Programme for Research and Innovation and on its financing as regards the 2022 budget, C/2022/2975 final.
7 ∙ ⸱ Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing Horizon 2020 — the framework Programme for
Research and Innovation (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC. 8 ∙ ⸱ Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing Horizon Europe — the framework Programme for Research
and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) No 1291/2013.
| | ) Furthermore, since 1991, the Fulbright-Schuman Programme (9) grants scholarships for European and US citizens to conduct research on EU affairs or policy, or the EU-US transatlantic agenda. In the last five years, it has engaged 115 participants from and to the US.
9 ∙ ⸱ Council Decision of 4 December 2006 concerning the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the United States of America renewing
the cooperation programme in higher education and vocational education and training, 2006/910/EC. | | ( | | )
