While we’re debating the cost and accessibility of education, the European Commission is quietly preparing a true revolution in youth policy. By 2028, a record €40.8 billion will be allocated to the Erasmus+ programme, up from the current €26.2 billion. This isn’t just a 55% budget increase – it’s a fundamental shift in how young Europeans will shape their futures.
The numbers speak for themselves: currently, around one in ten young Europeans takes advantage of the chance to study or work abroad. After 2028, that number is expected to triple. But the real game-changer lies not in the stats, but in a revolutionary transformation of the programme’s concept.
For the first time in history, all EU youth initiatives will come under the single umbrella of Erasmus+.
Want to study languages in Lisbon? One profile.
Dreaming of volunteering in an Estonian national park? Same system.
Looking for an internship in a Berlin startup or joining democratic initiatives in Vienna? All accessible through one platform. Even the European Solidarity Corps will become part of this ecosystem, marking a whole new level of integration for youth programmes.
The most valuable change will be the real democratization of access. The Commission promises to radically simplify the application process, especially for small organizations and young people with no prior experience in international programmes. Bureaucratic barriers that for years hindered participation from underprivileged groups will disappear. For the first time, the programme will truly open up to those who couldn’t afford to travel abroad – financial support will become more flexible and inclusive.
The new Erasmus+ will also be inherently green and digital. Students will learn about sustainability not from textbooks, but by working on real ecological projects across Europe. Some will learn to program AI in Tallinn, others will explore eco-tourism concepts in the French Alps, and some will dive into renewable energy in the Danish fjords. The programme will align closely with Europe’s top priorities: innovation, digital transformation, climate action, and strengthening democratic institutions.
This decision by the European Commission goes far beyond educational policy. It’s essentially an investment in the future of European identity and solidarity. Over the next six years, millions of young Europeans will gain experiences that will deeply reshape their understanding of the continent, democracy, and their own potential. And for organisations like ours, this opens up radically new horizons for working with youth in Catalonia.