The future of Erasmus+ begins: First draft programme for 2028–2034 now available
Erasmus+, the highly successful European programme for education, youth and sports, enters a new phase: The European Commission has presented the first, eagerly awaited draft programme for the successor programme for 2028 to 2034. According to the Commission's draft the two EU programmes Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) are to be merged into one programme for all. Moreover, a significant increase in funding is planned.
Erasmus+ has had an impact on more than one generation of Europeans. More than 16.5 million people from all over Europe have taken part in Erasmus+ so far. According to the OeAD, Austria’s national agency responsible for implementing Erasmus+ and ESC, around 439,000 people from Austria have taken part so far – they studied, taught, worked, completed an internship or initiated a project abroad.
A programme for everyone
According to the draft the current individual programmes Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps will be merged as of 2028 and projects in education, youth, sports and volunteering as well as solidarity will be united under the umbrella of Erasmus+. The new programme generation is to further strengthen the principle of ‘Erasmus+ for all’: whether it is in the classroom or on the sports ground, in vocational training or adult education, for students or volunteers – Erasmus+ is to become even more inclusive in the future. The focus is on promoting skills that help European citizens meet the demands of the modern labour market and ensure Europe's competitiveness in the long run. The programme aims to contribute to a European identity, active citizenship, democratic participation, social inclusion and equal opportunities. Preparedness – i.e. the systematic preparation for future crises – also plays an important part. Proven measures such as mobility opportunities and partnership formats will be retained and further developed.
More budget for Erasmus+
The European Union’s draft of the multiannual financial framework for the period 2028 to 2034 provides for an increase in funding for the programme to around 1.5 times the current amount. A total of 40.8 billion euros is to be made available over the entire duration of the new programme period.
The publication of the first draft programme marks the start of the negotiation process at the European level. The OeAD is actively involved in this process, representing the interests of all Austrian stakeholders and target groups of the programme.
The OeAD’s managing director Jakob Calice emphasises: "The draft shows that the European Commission is clearly committed to Erasmus+. It is a good proposal that clearly puts the Erasmus+ mark on Europe. Erasmus+ is both a flagship programme in education and an example of promoting cohesion and integration in Europe. In 2024 alone there were 38,000 approved stays in Austria under Erasmus+.
Austria has been part of the Erasmus programme since 1992. In that year 893 students took advantage of the opportunity to study abroad. Today Erasmus+ offers significantly more people the chance to experience mobility: pupils, apprentices, people in adult education and those involved in youth and sports benefit from the wide range of offers.
European Commission draft for the programme period 2028-2034:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=comnat:COM_2025_0549_FIN
Financial and statistical overview of the programme period 2021–2027 in Austria (data as of May 2025): http://erasmusplus.oead.at/programmcontrolling
