08.01.2026

A stronger Europe needs a properly funded Erasmus+

Joint paper by university network The Guild and other higher education organizations calls on policymakers to invest in exchange and collaboration to ensure Europe’s future prosperity

Together with sixteen other European higher education organizations, The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities has issued a joint statement where the undersigned call on EU policymakers to ensure that at least €60 billion are allocated to Erasmus+ in the ongoing negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034. Erasmus+ is the EU’s program to support education and training through mobility and cooperation opportunities. As Europe needs significantly more talent that can work together across borders, particularly in strategic sectors and at high skill levels, investing in people – through higher education exchange and collaboration – is central to Europe’s future prosperity, competitiveness and resilience. The Guild and its fellow academic organizations emphasize that Europe can only achieve its aims in education, skills and talent if Erasmus+ is ambitiously resourced. The Guild is a network comprising 22 leading research-intensive universities from across Europe, including the University of Tübingen. The partners aim to engage with policy makers, enhance public debate and collaborate with private and public institutions to save global problems.

Erasmus+ is one of Europe’s most tangible success stories. Its contribution to citizens’ lives and to Europe’s future needs investment that matches its proven impact. For nearly 40 years, this popular flagship program has empowered millions of learners, strengthened institutional cooperation, deepened European integration and fostered global outreach. At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, Erasmus+ delivers long-term returns in skills, employability, innovation capacity and civic engagement. Few EU programs combine such broad public support with such clear and measurable societal impact. Erasmus+ contributes directly to developing a highly skilled, mobile and adaptable workforce, strengthens Europe’s knowledge base and enhances societal cohesion and democratic resilience. Erasmus+ is also one of the EU’s most cost-effective instruments. The joint policy paper by The Guild and others gives concrete examples how relatively modest additional investment can deliver long-term returns across multiple EU objectives, from competitiveness and skills to cohesion, inclusion and global engagement.

After the joint statement by The Guild et al.

Further information

Full paper “A stronger Europe needs a properly funded Erasmus+” (PDF)
Website of The Guild