Shaping a More Inclusive, Efficient and Future-Proof Erasmus+ Programme
Erasmus+ remains one of the European Union’s most successful and impactful programmes, yet significant structural challenges continue to limit its accessibility, efficiency and long-term sustainability. This joint statement by the Association Européenne des Conservatoires (AEC) and the European Performing Arts Students’ Association (EPASA) contributes to the development of the 2028 Erasmus+ Work Programme from the perspective of higher music and performing arts education.
The statement identifies four key priorities. First, Erasmus+ must become genuinely inclusive: current grant levels remain insufficient to enable meaningful participation in long-term mobility, particularly for students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Increased individual grants and targeted financial support are therefore essential. Second, the programme must recognise and strengthen the administrative capacity required to implement mobility effectively, with increased and ring-fenced funding for international offices and specific support for small and specialised institutions.
Third, the digitalisation of Erasmus+ requires a fundamental reset. The statement calls for interoperable, stable and user-friendly digital tools, with particular attention to the reliability of Digital Learning Agreements, seamless data exchange, clear guidance, training and dedicated support for institutions undergoing the digital transition. Finally, Erasmus+ needs greater flexibility and reduced administrative burden, particularly for international mobility under KA171, enabling institutions to respond more effectively to geopolitical developments, humanitarian crises and the needs of at-risk students.
The statement argues that strengthening Erasmus+ is not merely an operational necessity: it is an investment in inclusion, intercultural understanding, European values, talent, innovation and cross-border cooperation. AEC and EPASA therefore express their readiness to contribute actively to shaping a future Erasmus+ programme that can fully deliver on its promise.
