The Erasmus+ programme of the European Union for the promotion of education and youth is going to expire on the 31st of December 2020. Already at the beginning of this year preparations for the establishment of the successor programme begun. After the publication of the proposal of the European Commission for the introduction of Erasmus 2021-2027 in May 2018 the legislative process now reached the parliamentary stage.

In this context the European Office for catholic youth and adult education submitted joint amendments to the European Parliament together with the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD) – Brussels Office, the Federation of Protestant Youth in Germany (aej), the Commission of Bishop´s Conferences in the EU (COMECE), the International Movement of Catholic Agricultural and Rural Youth (MIJARC) and the Commissariat of Catholic Bishops in Germany.

Our most important demand is an improved recognition of non-formal education through an increased budget share for youth and for adult education. Important societal challenges are ahead of us. Fighting right wing populism and extremism as well as managing demographic change are among those challenges. An important step is the expansion of civic education for the promotion of acitve democratic and European citizenship and the promotion of intergenerational solidarity. Non-formal education is well suited to tackle those challenges. In many places around Europe non-formal education is underdeveloped. Additional funding can unleash significant potentials. At the same time non-formal education is better equipped to reach all sectors of the population that formal education due to its flexible methods and structures.

Additional key demands are the introduction of an education component to DiscoverEU, the revision of the definition of adult education, an introduction of large-scale partnerships and ensuring structural funding to EU-NGOs.

The complete amendments can be downloaded here.