We have been involving young people in Erasmus+ Youth Projects since 2019 through our partnerships in and outside of Europe. The Erasmus+ Programme although, not only for youth but for adult, educators, teachers and children. Thus, from this year on we decided to change our scope and move into the other actions of Erasmus+ with the experience that we have gathered through the years.

What is Erasmus+?

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe.

It has an estimated budget of €26.2 billion. This is nearly double the funding compared to its predecessor programme (2014-2020).

The 2021-2027 programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.

It supports priorities and activities set out in the European Education Area, Digital Education Action Plan and the European Skills Agenda. The programme also

supports the European Pillar of Social Rights
implements the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027
develops the European dimension in sport

Opportunities

Erasmus+ offers mobility and cooperation opportunities in

higher education
vocational education and training
school education (including early childhood education and care)
adult education
youth
and sport

How Erasmus+ is managed

The Erasmus+ programme is managed by the European Commission (the EU’s executive body), the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), a series of National Agencies in Programme countries, and a series of National Offices in some Partner countries.

The European Commission

The European Commission handles the overall management of the programme, including:

managing the budget
setting the priorities
identifying the programme’s targets and criteria
monitoring and guiding the implementation
follow-up and evaluation of the programme

The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission is in charge of managing the “centralised” elements of the programme, including:

promoting the programme and opportunities
launching calls for proposals
reviewing grant requests
contracting and monitoring projects
communicating on results

The EACEA and Commission also carry out studies and research, as well as managing and financing the other bodies and networks supported by Erasmus+.

Detailed information on the management of Erasmus+ is available in the Annual Work Programmes published by the European Commission.

The National Agencies

In the EU countries, the Commission entrusts much of the management of Erasmus+ to National Agencies. Outside the EU, and specifically in the field of higher education, this role is filled by the National Erasmus+ Offices.

The Commission provides funding to the National Agencies, who use these funds to manage the programme’s “decentralised” activities. This allows the Agencies to adapt the programme to suit their national education, training, and youth systems.

The National Agencies are responsible for:

providing information on the programme
reviewing applications submitted in their country
monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the programme in their country
supporting people and organisations taking part in Erasmus+
promoting the programme and its activities at a local and national level

These Agencies also support beneficiaries of the programme from the application stage to the end of a project. They also work with beneficiaries and other organisations to support EU policy in areas supported by the programme.

National Erasmus+ Offices

Outside the EU, in the partner countries participating in Erasmus+ in the area of higher education, much of the work of the National Agencies is carried out by National Erasmus+Offices. These offices are the focal point for anyone intending to take part in Erasmus+, and are responsible for: