Inclusion, active citizenship, and democratic participation in Erasmus+ 2023

The Commission has launched the call for proposals for 2023 under the Erasmus+ framework. Its annual budget will be €4.2 billion in funding for mobility and cooperation in education, training, youth, and sport. The distinctive element this year will be support for inclusion, active citizenship, and democratic participation, as well as the green and digital transformation of the European Union on an international scale.

The programme will continue its hallmark of mobility, encouraging the movement of school pupils, students in higher education and vocational education and training (VET), adult learners, young people in non-formal learning programmes, educators, and staff across borders to experience European education and training.

From next year, the programme will include a new support action for sports coaches to participate in mobility projects, enabling local grassroots sports organisations and their staff to benefit from the trans-European learning and cooperation opportunities offered by Erasmus+.

Lucia Eguillor, in charge of the Erasmus+ programme at Zabala Innovation states that “Education is a key aspect for the green, digital and inclusive transformation that Europe requires. ERASMUS+ is the only European programme focused exclusively on educational activity at all levels, from school to continuing education, and seeks to promote essential skills to ensure sustainable social and economic development.”

He also placed special emphasis on education, an activity that he considers to be “transversal and which is nourished by the collaboration of all social actors, and therefore, the Erasmus programme includes educational institutions as well as civil society organisations and private companies.”

Erasmus+ 2023 in the framework of the European Year of Youth

The call will respond to the challenges ahead in 2023 by providing meaningful support to students and education staff fleeing the war in Ukraine, striving for a more inclusive agenda, and building on the legacy of the European Year of Youth.

2022 has been the European Year of Youth, which wanted to put the spotlight on the importance of Europe’s youth in building a better future: greener, more inclusive, and digital. It was the ideal time to move forward with confidence and hope with a post-pandemic perspective, with more opportunities to learn, share a vision, meet people and participate in activities across Europe.

In addition, in 2023 as a follow-up to the European Year of Youth, the programme will continue to ensure that the voice of youth is heard in the EU and beyond, notably by increasing youth activities funded through Erasmus+. Projects aimed at supporting the green transition will also be encouraged in the different education sectors as the programme continues to strive towards carbon neutrality by promoting sustainable modes of transport and more environmentally responsible behaviour.

Erasmus+ 2023 focus

Erasmus+ support is targeted at activities contributing to the Programme priorities in the fields of education, adult higher education, VET, as well as youth and sport. Based on open calls for project applications, any public or private body active in the fields of education, training, youth and sport can apply for funding.

The programme focuses on four key priorities:

• Inclusion and diversity.
• Digital transformation.
• Environment and climate change.
• Participation in democratic life.

The most disadvantaged organisations and participants are at the heart of the priority, so the programme continues to fund inclusion mechanisms for participants and specific resources to remove any barriers to their participation.

Erasmus+ contribution to the European Year of Competence

The Programme will continue to support the youth dimension in existing initiatives and policies. At the same time, projects and activities under the Erasmus+ 2023 call will continue to contribute to the EU’s commitment to further education and retraining, thus making a valuable contribution to the proposal to make 2023 the European Year of Skills.

It was decided following the announcement made by President Ursula von der Leyen in her 2022 State of the Union address and comes against the backdrop of the ongoing dual green and digital transition, which is undoubtedly creating new opportunities for people and the EU economy.

The European Year of Skills aligned with the European Commission and the European Parliament proposes to give a new impetus to lifelong learning:

• Promoting greater, more effective, and inclusive investment in training and skills upgrading to tap the full potential of Europe’s workforce, and help people move between jobs.
• Ensuring that skills are matched to the needs of the labour market, including in cooperation with social partners and enterprises.
• Matching people’s aspirations and skills to opportunities in the labour market.
• Attracting people from third countries with the skills the EU needs, in particular by strengthening learning opportunities and mobility and facilitating the recognition of qualifications.