The EU Provides €26 Billion for Young People to Travel and Learn: What Is Erasmus Plus and How Can You Participate?

The Erasmus Plus programme was launched in 2014, entered a new seven-year implementation phase in 2021, and has been allocated a budget of €26 billion.

Between 2021 and 2027, Erasmus Plus aims to engage an even larger number of participants and a broader range of organisations. The new programme prioritises inclusivity, green initiatives, and digitalisation, supported by a variety of financial mechanisms. It also emphasises strengthening civic values, intercultural dialogue, tolerance, and understanding of social, cultural, and historical heritage.

The overarching goal of the programme is to support the educational, professional, and personal development of individuals in the fields of education, training, youth, and sports through lifelong learning.

Spending time in another country for education, skills enhancement, or work is intended to become the norm. Similarly, fluency in at least two foreign languages in addition to one’s mother tongue is also an aspiration.

Through these initiatives, the programme makes a significant contribution to sustainable growth, higher-quality employment, and social cohesion. It encourages innovation and helps bridge gaps in knowledge, skills, and competences across Europe.

Which Countries Are Programme Members?

Primarily, member states include European countries, but nations worldwide can also participate in specific capacities. All participating countries are divided into categories:

• EU Member States and third countries associated with the programme
• Third countries not fully participating in the programme

EU Member States and associated third countries (including EU countries and six others: North Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey, and Serbia) can participate in all parts of the programme. Third countries not fully participating (other nations grouped by region) can take part only in specific programme sections.

Serbia has been a full member of the Erasmus Plus programme since 2019, holding the status of a third country associated with the programme. This means that institutions and organisations from Serbia can apply for all types of projects as coordinators and partners, just like EU Member States.

Who Is Eligible to Participate?

Institutions and organisations involved directly or indirectly in education, as well as any public or private institution/organisation active in or willing to contribute to educational and training projects, can participate in Erasmus Plus.

• Specifically, eligible participants include:
• Preschools, primary schools, secondary vocational schools, and grammar schools
• Universities and higher education institutions
• Schools for adult education
• Organisations offering various types of vocational education and training
• Civil society organisations/associations providing youth training
• Local governments
• Small and medium enterprises
• Professional associations, among others

It is important to note that only legal entities (institutions and organisations) can apply for projects, though the benefits extend to individuals employed in these institutions, as well as their students, trainees, and learners.

How and When to Apply for Projects?

Depending on the body responsible for funding, projects are divided into:

• Centralised projects, which are submitted to the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) in Brussels
• Decentralised projects, which are submitted to the Tempus Foundation

Calls for project proposals and submission deadlines are regularly updated each year for all project types on the Erasmus Plus Calendar of Deadlines webpage.

At the start of each application cycle, the European Commission publishes the Programme Guide, which provides detailed instructions on who can apply and how. The latest version of this document can be found here.

Programme Structure

All Erasmus Plus projects, whether in education, youth, or sports, are categorised into three key action areas:

• Key Action 1 (KA1) – Individual mobility
• Key Action 2 (KA2) – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices
• Key Action 3 (KA3) – Support for policy reform

Jean Monnet activities form a separate part of the programme. From 2021 to 2027, these activities, traditionally focused on higher education institutions, have been extended to general and vocational education institutions.

• Projects in education generally have a formal structure, while youth projects focus on non-formal learning.
• In the field of sports, the emphasis is on international projects promoting:
• Inclusion of broader populations in sports and physical activities
• Participation in physical activities as a means of maintaining and improving health
• Integrity and values in sports
• Education in and through sports
• Volunteering in sports
• Mobility of coaches, managers, volunteers, and staff of non-profit sports organisations
• Combating negative phenomena in sports, such as violence, racism, intolerance, and discrimination

The Role of the Tempus Foundation

The Tempus Foundation is responsible for implementing the Erasmus Plus programme in Serbia. Its role includes supporting all organisations applying for projects within the programme.