The General Assembly of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) today called for a significant increase in the EU budget for Erasmus+ from 2028. In order to achieve the EU's ambitious mobility goals, a total budget of at least 60 billion euros is required for the programme generation from 2028 to 2034. 20 billion of this should be channelled into the higher education sector.

The DAAD member universities and their student bodies underlined the outstanding social importance of the Erasmus programme at the General Assembly in Bonn. Thanks to its structure and reliable funding for the promotion of mobility, projects and the European University Alliances, Erasmus+ is of the utmost importance for the internationalisation of German universities. The programme must be comprehensively strengthened in view of the ambitious EU mobility goals and other challenges from 2028. This would require a total budget of at least 60 billion euros across the EU by 2034, with 20 billion euros earmarked for universities.

"Erasmus+ stands for European cohesion and a common identity like no other EU programme. Since its inception, it has enabled around 16 million people to gain experience in another European country, almost one million of them from Germany. It is by far the largest mobility programme at German universities," explained DAAD President Prof. Dr Joybrato Mukherjee. "In times of geopolitical tensions and increasing centrifugal forces within the EU, Erasmus+ is an important anchor of stability for young Europeans. A substantial budget increase for Erasmus+ from 2028 is therefore essential."

"Erasmus+ is more popular than ever with students and universities. Despite a record budget this year, only 60,000 of 82,000 applications for stays abroad were approved. Yet the EU has ambitious goals: By 2030, almost a quarter of all university graduates in the EU should have spent time abroad in Europe during their studies. This will require at least 20 billion euros for universities between 2028 and 2034," said Dr Stephan Geifes, Director of the National Agency for Erasmus+ University Cooperation at the DAAD.

Background: 

Development of the Erasmus budget

In the current programme generation 2021-2027, the annual budget will increase significantly until 2027. In order to maintain or increase the level of funding for mobility and programmes in the new programme generation from 2028, a significantly higher budget is required. Otherwise, mobilities and projects would have to be significantly reduced. For German universities, this would mean that from 2028 only 50,000 student and university staff mobilities could be funded instead of the planned 70,000. One in four Erasmus scholarships would then be cancelled. 

Previous budget negotiations

The EU Commission plans to continue Erasmus+ independently, while many other programmes will be merged from 2028. The Commission will present its draft budget in mid-July. The "Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034" will then enter into negotiations between the Commission, member states and the European Parliament. The final budget will be adopted in 2027. 

DAAD General Assembly

The DAAD General Assembly meets once a year in Bonn. It currently comprises 252 universities and 104 student bodies from Germany.