European Parliament Seeks 47.4 Billion Euros For Erasmus Plus
The European Parliament has formally requested a budget of 47.4 billion euros for the Erasmus+ exchange program between 2028 and 2034, which is 6 billion euros higher than the initial proposal put forward by the European Commission, Blick reported on October 22, 2026.
European Parliament Seeks Funding Beyond Current Erasmus+ Budget
The new funding target announced by lawmakers on Thursday outpaces both the European Commission’s initial baseline and the current program’s allocation of 26 billion euros. Erasmus+ provides financial grants enabling students to study abroad for one or more semesters, alongside supporting youth workers, adult education initiatives, and sports programs. Data from the European Commission indicates that approximately 1.5 million individuals participated in the initiative during 2024. The European Parliament established these funding targets within its formal negotiating position. This baseline now serves as the framework for upcoming negotiations with the Council of the European Union, which adopted its own position back in May.
Switzerland Seeks Association by 2027
The structuring of the funding framework carries direct implications for Switzerland, where the Federal Council aims for full program association starting January 1, 2027. During the autumn session, the Council of States approved a financial credit of 193 million francs to facilitate this integration. The National Council is scheduled to review the matter during the upcoming winter session. Participation remains contingent upon the approval of the National Council. Under current projections from Brussels, Switzerland would also maintain its association with Erasmus+ throughout the subsequent 2028 to 2034 programming period, though the expanded total budget means the Swiss financial contribution is expected to increase accordingly.