Question écrite de
M. Antonius MANDERS
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Commission européenne
Subject: Making DiscoverEU available for older people
The Commission announced on 6 January 2022 that more than 60 000 young people in the EU would receive a free travel pass to tour the European continent. European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel stated that the number of tickets for DiscoverEU would increase in the next round in spring 2022. While I want to applaud the Commission for investing more in young people so they can learn about and experience Europe, older people are not eligible for receiving free travel passes. Which means that older people in the EU, in particular those with a low income, may not be able to experience Europe’s history, diversity and culture during their lifetime.
1. Does the Commission agree that in the framework of adult and lifelong learning, which positively influences active citizenship and social inclusion, it is of the utmost importance that older people also have a chance to discover their European identity and learn about European history and culture?
2. Does the Commission agree that since DiscoverEU started in 2018 and all Europeans above the eligible age in that year were immediately excluded from the programme, they should have a chance to apply at a set, older age?
3. What will the Commission propose to make DiscoverEU more inclusive for older people?
Answer given by Ms Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission
(7 March 2022)
DiscoverEU has been targeting young people aged 18 since its beginning in 2018 as a preparatory action of the European Parliament, to be consistent with the EU policy framework for young people outlined in the 2016 Commission Communication ‘Investing in Europe's youth (1)’.
Currently integrated in the new Erasmus+ programme (2), DiscoverEU is a learning opportunity explicitly designed for the next generation of Europeans. The travel passes are available for 18-year-olds to incentivise them to travel and discover the EU at their crucial moment of life, when they turn adult. Therefore, the travel passes are not intended for older adults.
However, the new Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027 brings a key novelty by offering mobility opportunities (learning time abroad) for learners of any age. Mobility activities target adult learners with fewer opportunities, as the most affected by technological changes and potential social exclusion.
These activities aim to reinforce key competences, create opportunities for personal growth and improve their life quality. To achieve this, activities focus on skills’ development, inclusion and diversity, digital, sustainability and active citizenship, with individual learning programmes adapted to learners’ needs.
The Erasmus+ programme 2014-2020 (3) co-financed nearly 175 strategic partnerships projects, which have benefited seniors, for example in relation to learning solutions addressing inclusive senior education and active aging.
The new Erasmus+ programme continues this work by including a specific political priority to promote projects that create education opportunities and exchanges of experiences by seniors, with a view to building and strengthening European identity.
⋅1∙ COM (2016) 940 of 7.12.2016.
⋅2∙ 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.
⋅3∙ 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.