Réunion de la Coalition Erasmus

11 septembre 2019

Commission européenne, Parlement européen

On the 11th of September, EUD together with the European Disability Forum attended the Erasmus+ Coalition meeting organised by the Lifelong Learning Platform, which is an umbrella organisation gathering 42 European organisations active in the field of education, training and youth. Erasmus+ Coalition is the coalition that aims at contributing to policy debates related to the new Erasmus+ programme. The meeting was dedicated to discussing the current state of affairs of the proposal for the new Erasmus+ Programme for the period 2021-2027.

In May 2018, the European Commission adopted its proposal for the next Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027 and in March 2019 the European Parliament adopted its Report. Now the future of the Programme is in the hands of the Council of the European Union (the Council).

EUD in collaboration with the European Disability Forum, European Union of Deaf Youth and other organisations worked hard to influence the Report of the European Parliament so it ensures that the new Erasmus+ Programme is as inclusive as possible for everyone, including deaf persons. It was a very positive development that the European Parliament included most of the suggestions made by the organisations representing persons with disabilities into the Report. However, during the meeting of the Erasmus+ coalition, it was discussed that the Council is not willing to keep the proposals concerning inclusion of persons with disabilities in the legal text that sets the basis of the Erasmus+ Programme.

EUD highlights that in order to achieve the goal of making new Erasmus+ an inclusive and accessible programme for all young people, including people with fewer opportunities, it is necessary to support the position of the European Parliament in four main areas: inclusion, accessibility, funding and the role of National Agencies. EUD will continue advocating for an inclusive Erasmus+ programme and will engage National Associations of the Deaf in the process.