Erasmus+ 2021-27 interim evaluation and Erasmus+ 2014-20 final evaluation

Subject: Erasmus+ 2021-27 interim evaluation and Erasmus+ 2014-20 final evaluation

The EU has specific competences in the field of education and youth, enabling it to design, implement and evaluate programmes such as Erasmus+. The EU is responsible for managing the programme, setting objectives, allocating funds and laying down guidelines for implementation. It encourages coordination between Member States, institutions and stakeholders by identifying challenges and sharing best practices. The EU can align the Erasmus+ programme with wider EU policies and adapt it to changing circumstances.

1. In terms of adapting and aligning the Erasmus+ programme with the application of EU policies, how does the Commission intend to adjust the rules further in order to involve young people with special needs or disabilities to a greater extent in the projects?

2. Continuing with this theme, from which sources will the Commission redirect funds from the EU budget to the Erasmus+ mobility programme budget in order to further promote the participation of persons with disabilities?

Submitted:21.3.2024

Answer given by Ms Ivanova on behalf of the European Commission

(11 June 2024)

The Erasmus+ programme (1) features the promotion of inclusion and diversity as one of its overarching priorities. The Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1877 (2) established a framework of inclusion measures for the programme, aiming to remove the obstacles preventing target groups with fewer opportunities — including participants with disabilities — from fully enjoying and participating in the programme.

Inclusion support can be requested in all Erasmus+ mobility activities. This consists of two possible financial contributions, one allocated to the organisation implementing the mobility activity and the other addressed to the participants with fewer opportunities. Specific financial support can be also received by an accompanying person.

More flexible mobility formats such as blended and group mobility or mobility with a shorter duration are also available to facilitate the participation of disadvantaged groups.

Two Resource Centres focus on inclusion and diversity, offering resources and services to help individuals, organisations and institutions to participate in Erasmus+ in a more inclusive way.

The interim evaluation of the ongoing Erasmus+ programme and final evaluation of its predecessor, ongoing until end 2024, will help assess the overall effectiveness and performance of the programme.

The evaluation focuses on the implementation of new programme initiatives, simplification, and inclusion measures. The outcomes and recommendations of the evaluation will be used to improve, where necessary, the implementation of the current programme, and to feed into the impact assessment for a possible successor of Erasmus+ beyond 2027.

An evaluation report will be submitted by end 2024 to the other EU institutions.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-programme-guide

2 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021D1877