MEPs and pressure groups have expressed dismay over a proposed €295 million cut to the Erasmus student-exchange programme in the European Union’s 2025 budget. EU member states agreed on the budget, citing financial strains from the war in Ukraine as justification for the reduction. Lawmakers, who will have a say on the budget next month, are opposing the cuts, which also include a potential decrease in funding for the Horizon Europe research initiative. The European Parliament is set to vote on its position in October and negotiate with the Council in November, with hopes of restoring the funding. Since its founding in 1987, nearly 16 million students have utilized Erasmus for studying abroad, making it a highly valued program among lawmakers.
Emma Rafowicz, a young MEP from France, has raised concerns about the proposed budget cuts to Erasmus and announced a petition opposing the reductions. Other MEPs, including Andrzej Halicki and Victor Negrescu, have also voiced worries about the impact of the proposed cuts on educational opportunities and innovation in the EU. The European Youth Forum has expressed alarm over the budget reduction, stating that it sends a concerning message about the EU’s commitment to investing in youth. The EU’s budget is part of a seven-year framework that runs from 2021 to 2027, with negotiations for the next cycle set to begin next year.
The EU Council’s position on the 2025 budget has led to criticism from MEPs, pressure groups, and youth organizations who argue that the proposed cuts to the Erasmus program and Horizon Europe research initiative are unacceptable. Lawmakers are set to vote on their own position in October and enter negotiations with the Council in November in the hopes of reinstating the funding. The success of the Erasmus program, with nearly 16 million students benefiting from it since its inception, has made it a revered initiative within the EU. MEPs like Emma Rafowicz are working to oppose the cuts and ensure that educational opportunities and innovation are prioritized in the budget.
Andrzej Halicki and Victor Negrescu are among the MEPs who have voiced concerns about the potential negative impact of the budget cuts on educational opportunities and innovation in the EU. The European Youth Forum has also spoken out against the proposed reductions, emphasizing the importance of investing in youth and casting doubt on the EU’s commitment to the next Multi-annual Financial Framework negotiations. The negotiations for the EU’s budget are part of a larger seven-year framework that spans from 2021 to 2027, with discussions for the next cycle set to begin in the following year.
The proposed €295 million cut to the Erasmus student-exchange program in the EU’s 2025 budget has sparked backlash from MEPs, pressure groups, and youth organizations. Member states agreed on the budget, citing financial strains from the war in Ukraine as a reason for the reduction. However, lawmakers are opposing the cuts and working to restore funding for both the Erasmus program and the Horizon Europe research initiative. The success of the Erasmus program, which has benefitted millions of students since its establishment in 1987, has made it a cherished initiative within the EU. Negotiations for the EU’s budget are set to continue, with the European Parliament playing a key role in determining the final outcome.
