15 billion euros for exchange programme
The EU is providing additional funding for stays abroad as part of its Erasmus+ programme.
POPULAR EXCHANGE. For many people, a semester or year spent abroad is one of the happiest memories of their days in education. The European Union now wishes to enable even more young people to spend time abroad in future to get to know foreign languages and cultures. Between 2014 and 2020 it will be providing 14.7 billion euros to this end, which is 40% more than previously. Existing programmes such as Erasmus for students, Leonardo da Vinci for trainees and Comenius for school students will merge into one large programme called Erasmus+. Moreover, the EU is planning a special loans instrument for students wishing to complete an entire Master’s degree abroad. Young managers, voluntary workers and, for the first time, up-and-coming athletes will also be supported. In all, more than four million people are intended to benefit from Erasmus + by 2020.
