Die Mitgliederversammlung des DAAD fordert eine deutliche finanzielle Stärkung des Erasmus+ Programms. Wie entscheidend diese Mittelerhöhung für die Zukunft Europas ist, erläutert im Kurzinterview Dr. Stephan Geifes, Direktor der Nationalen Agentur für Erasmus+ Hochschulzusammenarbeit.

Interview auf www.daad.de

Hier finden Sie die Pressemitteilung zur Mitgliederversammltung des DAAD bei der die Mitgliedshochschulen eine Stärkung des Erasmus+ Programms gefordert haben. Dabei erklärte DAAD-Präsident Prof. Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee:

„Kein anderes EU-Programm steht so sehr für europäischen Zusammenhalt und eine gemeinsame Identität wie Erasmus+. Seit seiner Gründung hat es rund 17 Millionen Menschen ermöglicht, in einem anderen europäischen Land Erfahrungen zu sammeln. Es ist das größte Mobilitätsprogramm an deutschen Hochschulen“

Pressemitteilung auf www.daad.de

Resolution der DAAD-Mitgliederversammlung
Die deutschen Hochschulen und ihre Studierendenschaften unterstreichen im Rahmen der DAAD-Mitgliederversammlung 2025 die überragende gesellschaftliche Bedeutung des Programms Erasmus+ für das vereinte Europa. Mit Blick auf die umfassenden Förderungen von Mobilitäten, Projekten und Europäischen Hochschulallianzen betonen sie, dass Erasmus+ höchste Relevanz für die Internationalisierung der deutschen Hochschulen hat. Erasmus+ bildet das Fundament, auf dem die europäische und globale Mobilität von Studierenden, Lehrenden und Verwaltungsbeschäftigten an deutschen Hochschulen ruht. Ebenso trägt Erasmus+ maßgeblich zum Aufbau von Kooperations- und Internationalisierungsstrukturen an deutschen Hochschulen bei.

Vor diesem Hintergrund setzen sich die deutschen Hochschulen und ihre Studierendenschaften nachdrücklich dafür ein, dass das Erasmus+ Programm im Hochschulbereich auch in der Programmgeneration 2028-2034 gestärkt wird. Insbesondere sprechen sie sich dafür aus, das zum Ende der laufenden Programmgeneration erreichte Förderniveau auch in der nächsten Programmgeneration fortzusetzen und weiter auszubauen. Nur so kann auch den Zielsetzungen der EU zur Intensivierung des Austauschs in Europa („Europe on the Move“) und der Stärkung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit Europas im Rahmen der „Union der Kompetenzen“ („Union of Skills“) in quantitativer wie qualitativer Hinsicht Rechnung getragen werden. Dazu ist ein Erasmusgesamtbudget von mindestens 60 Mrd. EUR für die Jahre 2028-2034 erforderlich, von dem rund 20 Mrd. EUR nach bisherigem Verteilungsschlüssel den Hochschulen in Europa zur Verfügung zu stellen sind.

Die deutschen Hochschulen und ihre Studierendenschaften appellieren an die Europäische Kommission und das Europäische Parlament ebenso wie an Bund und Länder in Deutschland, sich diesem Ziel anzuschließen und entschlossen für es einzutreten.

Beschlossen am 24.6.2025 in Bonn
Ansprechpartner:
Dr. Stephan Geifes
Direktor der Nationalen Agentur für Erasmus+ Hochschulzusammenarbeit
E-Mail

Zum Bericht:
Erasmus+ Bericht Mitgliederversammlung Juni 2025

English version

Strengthen Erasmus+! For education, economy and society in a united Europe. Resolution for a successful Erasmus+ programme in higher education in the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034.

Resolution of the DAAD General Assembly
At the DAAD General Assembly 2025, the German universities and their student bodies underline the outstanding social importance of the Erasmus+ programme for a united Europe. With a view to the comprehensive funding of mobilities, projects and European University Alliances, they emphasise that Erasmus+ is highly relevant for the internationalisation of German universities. Erasmus+ forms the foundation on which the European and global mobility of students, teachers and administrative staff at German universities rests. Erasmus+ also makes a significant contribution to the development of cooperation and internationalisation structures at German universities.

Against this backdrop, German universities and their student bodies are strongly committed to ensuring that the Erasmus+ programme in the higher education sector is also strengthened in the 2028-2034 programme generation. In particular, they are in favour of continuing and further expanding the level of funding achieved at the end of the current programme generation in the next programme generation. This is the only way to fulfil the EU's objectives of intensifying exchanges in Europe ("Europe on the Move") and strengthening Europe's competitiveness within the framework of the "Union of Skills" in both quantitative and qualitative terms. This requires a total Erasmus budget of at least EUR 60 billion for the years 2028-2034, of which around EUR 20 billion is to be made available to universities in Europe according to the current distribution formula.

The German universities and their student bodies appeal to the European Commission and the European Parliament as well as to the federal and state governments in Germany to support this goal and to stand up for it resolutely.

Adopted on 24 June 2025 in Bonn
Contact person:
Dr Stephan Geifes
Director Erasmus+ National Agency Higher Education
E-Mail

To the report:
Erasmus+ Report Assembly June 2025

Abstract:

Erasmus+ is essential to the internationalisation of European higher education, and therefore to Europe's competitiveness. In this article, Stephan Geifes argues that to continue the programme’s success and deliver on key policy goals it needs a budget of €60 billion in the next MFF.

Europe needs a strong Erasmus+ programme. Erasmus+ needs a strong budget.

During her recent speech at the 2025 Annual EU Budget Conference, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the value of a strong Erasmus+ budget in the EU’s next multiannual financial framework (MFF):

“Throughout our history, our budget has been a true force for good. (…) It has created a new generation of Europeans through the Erasmus project. (…) We want this success story to continue. And for this, our budget must keep pace with a changing world.”

The unique value of Erasmus+

Indeed, for many citizens, Erasmus+ is the face of the EU. Since 1987, the programme has enabled more than 16 million people, most of them young, to discover Europe and the world. Erasmus+ stands for skills-based and value-oriented exchange and education for young Europeans. It also means support for individuals, projects, and more recently, the 65 European Universities alliances. As such, it has proven itself to be integral to the internationalisation of the entire European higher education system.

The wider economic and societal importance of Erasmus+ should also not be underestimated. international exchange and cooperation financed by Erasmus+ guarantees that graduates acquire the necessary skills and values to ensure that Europe is prepared, competitive and resilient.

At an individual level, Erasmus+ supports professional training, broadens horizons and conveys European values and democratic participation, as shown by three recent studies in Germany. For example, two-thirds of programme participants report a significant improvement in their foreign language and technical skills, as well as key competencies. Furthermore, 82% of former participants stated in a survey that they wanted to take part in the 2024 European elections.

These results show that Erasmus+ makes a significant contribution not only to meeting the European economy's need for qualified professionals, but also to society’s need for active citizens who can shape the future in a flexible and cosmopolitan way.  

Achieving the Union of Skills

On 5 March 2025, the European Commission presented its ‘Union of Skills’ initiative, which aims to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, and thus its position in the world.

For many years, Erasmus+ has already made decisive contributions to goals laid out in the Union of Skills. It has done so by promoting the mobility of students and university staff, strengthening the quality of higher education through project funding and making the European Higher Education Area and European Education Area a reality through institutional cooperation, including within the European Universities alliances.

Erasmus+ remains central to achieving interconnected education, promoting skilling and upskilling and enabling the next generations to cooperate within Europe. In addition, it has a key role to play in developing, attracting and retaining the talents that will build Europe's future. Therefore, to successfully implement the Union of Skills, it is necessary to further develop the European higher education sector by strengthening Erasmus+.

Hitting Europe’s mobility goals

Even before the launch of the Union of Skills, in 2024 EU member states set themselves the goal of increasing mobility in Europe in all areas of education. In 2020, only 12% of graduates across Europe, including 17% in Germany, went abroad during their studies. The Council of the EU’s 2024 resolution ‘Europe on the move’ formulates the political goal for the higher education sector that by 2030, 23% of graduates should experience international mobility as part of their studies.

Given the general decline in student mobility over the past 15 years, increased mobility can surely only be achieved through increased funding. Due to its scope, Erasmus+ is the only suitable programme for this. The next MFF has to take this into account.

Significant investment needed to continue the success of Erasmus+

European policy makers have taken the proven impact of Erasmus+ on the skills and values of its citizens, and the economic and societal benefits that this brings, into account. This can be seen in the decision to preserve the programme’s core mission of fostering mobility, cooperation and skills development across borders, and not least in the fact that Erasmus+ will continue as one of a limited number of stand-alone EU programmes.

This needs to be followed by an adequate budget. Having heard from President von der Leyen, the European higher education community is greatly looking forward to the European Commission's proposal for the next MFF.

The Erasmus+ budget of €26 billion for the period 2021-2027 was already a sharp increase on 2014-2020. But given today’s economic and geopolitical reality, even this will be vastly insufficient if Erasmus+ is to continue to make Europe prepared, competitive and resilient under the next long-term budget.

Just to continue the programme’s current success at the 2027 achieved level and compensate for inflation, Erasmus+ would need a budget of €46 billion under the next MFF. But as we have seen, Europe expects much more from Erasmus+. So, in order to support the Union of Skills and ramp up mobility in higher education, Erasmus+ needs and merits a budget of €60 billion for 2028-2034, with €20 billion earmarked for higher education mobility and cooperation measures.

Author: Dr. Stephan Geifes

Note: This article is based on the author’s contribution to a session on ‘Universities and the future EU programmes for a sustainable and resilient Europe’ at the 2025 EUA Annual Conference at the University of Latvia.

Biography: Stephan Geifes is Director of the National Agency for Erasmus+ within the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Vice-President of the Academic Cooperation Association.

Useful links:

Speech by President von der Leyen at the Annual EU Budget Conference 2025
The importance of study-related stays abroad in the transformation process of the German economy
Once in a Lifetime: Erasmus+
Campus international: Effects of international student mobility on critical labour market-related skills
Europe on the Move: Council Recommendation on promoting learning mobility in the EU
The EU’s next long-term budget must support ambitious and independent programmes for education, research and innovation [EUA statement]
Use and impact of the Erasmus+ programme (2021-27) at higher education institutions [EUA survey report and recommendations]
EUA’s work on Erasmus+