European Federation for Intercultural Learning - EFIL’s Post

Discover the priorities of the new work programme of Erasmus+ and check whether your ideas fall in line in order to put together promising proposals for project applications to put your plans into practice.

The Council of the European Union of the EU has proposed a €295 million cut to the #Erasmus+ Programme in the 2025 #EUGeneralBudget. This isn't just a budget adjustment — it’s a direct blow to the future of Europe’s youth. The consequences will be devastating, and we’re already facing the fallout from multiple crises. This is the worst time to undermine one of the EU's most powerful tools for unity and #opportunity! As Liberal Youth, we join the European Youth Forum´s demand for EU Member States and the European Parliament reject this reckless proposal. Erasmus+ is not a luxury — it’s a lifeline for young people across Europe! Here’s why slashing its funding is a grave mistake: 🔴 Erasmus+ Fights Polarisation and Defends #Democracy: At a time of dangerous political division and rising extremism, Erasmus+ is vital for fostering understanding and strengthening European democracy. Cutting this programme will further divide us when we need unity most. 🔴 Young People Are Already Struggling: Inflation is soaring, geopolitical tensions are rising, and the scars of COVID-19 still run deep. Erasmus+ offers young people critical chances for personal and professional #development. Cutting it now will strip those #opportunities from those who need them most — especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. 🔴 Cuts Contradict the EU’s Own Promises: Ursula von der Leyen claimed to prioritize the youth in her political agenda, Mario Draghi demands an "Erasmus for all." The EU itself recognizes the importance of investing in youth. Cutting this funding sends a disastrous message — that Europe’s youth are not a priority, they are in the investment backseat. 🔴 Hitting the Most Vulnerable Hardest: Erasmus+ has been a game-changer for young people facing social and economic challenges. Slashing its budget will shut them out of life-changing opportunities, further entrenching #inequality and exclusion. This is not just about numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about the #future of an entire generation. The European Youth Forum urges EU institutions: Do not let this cut happen! We cannot allow short-term financial decisions to sacrifice the long-term potential of Europe’s young people. For more information on the call: https://lnkd.in/ejAcHymA 💥 Act NOW to protect Erasmus+ and safeguard Europe's future! 💥

The ⭐ 2024 European Parliament elections are just around the corner! 🇪🇺🗳️ It's a crucial time to make your voice heard #UseYourVote. Want to know the position of the SRUK/CERU 💼 🍏 Science Policy Department? Check it out! Our latest Brexit Survey showed that changes in rights for🇪🇺 residents in 🇬🇧 and academic mobility remain as major concerns of our members. With both European and British elections coming up, we have a golden opportunity to address these issues! 🌟Here are a few of our proposals: 🤝 Stable UK-EU R&D&i Association: Horizon Europe is great, but it's temporary. We need a lasting agreement for continuous UK participation in EU R&D&i programs beyond 2027. ✈️ Youth Mobility Agreement: We support the creation of a youth mobility deal for 18-30 year-olds. This election cycle is perfect for materialising this proposal from the European Commission. 🎓Academic & Research Mobility Agreement: We need a visa-free agreement for researchers with job offers, making academic exchanges smoother, especially for those funded by EU R&D&i programs. 📈Increased R&D&i Funding: Boost the next EU R&D&i budget to meet 1.25% of GDP target by 2030. Revise the research assessment system to reflect the diversity of careers and outputs, promoting multilingualism. 🌐Support for the European Scientific Diaspora: The European research diaspora continues to enrich the international scientific landscape. We propose a robust funding program for projects like CONNECTS-UK and hope their voice is heard in the🇪🇺 negotiations with other countries 🎓Bilateral Student Mobility Programs: Create funded mobility programs for undergrad and postgrad students between the UK and EU. Fill the gap left by Erasmus+ and support visa applications of candidates. These proposals aim to foster stronger UK-EU scientific collaborations post-Brexit. Let's make R&D&i a top priority in the next legislative period! 🚀🌟 For more details, check out the full proposal by our SRUK/CERU Science Policy Department🍏 📰 :https://lnkd.in/ezZe2b8d  #EUElections2024 #UseYourVote

The EU has a lot to offer when it comes to best practices in meaningful youth participation. The Global Gateway initiative has the potential to transform the lives of people across the world, and with the recognition that this is not possible without youth, we have already overcome one of the most persistent barriers for sucess. Today's #GLOBALGATEWAY High-level Youth Event, with openings by EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier, showcased the level of commitment needed, and emphasized how collaboration between the EU, UN, national governments, CSO, and youth and student organizations is the key to the word people are calling for.

Today, the Outcomes of the EU Youth Conference of September 2024 (#EUYC) were published. The Conference had the subject of 👉 #development of opportunities and #reinforcement of participation of #rural #youth in local economies and societies, in which both myself and my associate Paschalis Ioannidis participated as Youth Delegates representing Greece 🇬🇷. We were glad to see that the Outcomes include 4 of the points on which we strongly insisted and heavily participated in the related #policy suggestions. Particularly: 🔹️ Investment in alternative transportation networks, specially focused on mountainous areas and remote islands. 🔹️ Reinforcement of alternative/remote work and #innovativefarming. 🔹️ Formation of local #youthcouncils by young professionals and citizens. 🔹️ #taxincentives for professionals and employees in #agriculture, connected with the incorporation of high-tech (#ai + #digitalization), instead of constant supplements that end up making business activities dependent on centralized policies. The Outcomes will be presented to the Youth Working Party, and then officially adopted by the Council of the European Union and published in the Official Journal of the EU. Our only "regret" is the intensely declarative character of the text, leaving out our proposed specialized and focused policy suggestions. Both of us being born and raised in rural areas, we are very proud to have made a small contribution on policy-making for rural youth. BY the Youth - FOR the Youth! #EUYC #policymaking #rural #youth

A new study of the TUI Foundation just came out with insightful new findings. Here are some key points: 🌍 Over half of young Europeans believe their country's EU membership is "a good thing," with 39% advocating for even closer ties between EU nations. 🗳️ Elections and demonstrations stand out as the top ways for young EU citizens to influence politics. 🏛️ However, less than 20% feel strongly represented by their national or the EU Parliament. 🚶♂️ Migration tops the list of concerns for young people, surpassing even climate change. ✈️ Freedom of travel is hailed as the EU's most significant achievement by those aged 16 to 26. 🗳️And remember, your voice matters! Participate in the upcoming EU elections 6-9 June and make a difference. #UseYourVote For more insights on the Youth Study check https://lnkd.in/d5qnqw-3

Had the wonderful chance to be invited to the European Parliament and have days full of discussion about democracy, upcoming EP elections and meet so many people who are working behind this. For me it’s most important for the youth to understand how much our vote matters. The equation is pretty simple: don’t like something / really like something + vote = change. Not voting keeps things the same or perhaps even make them worse. As I shared on my instagram, 1/5 of the EUs population is between the ages of 18-35 meanwhile only 1/15 of the MEPs is in that agegroup, 6 of them only under 30. If we want things to be more our way, we need to vote. Pretty simple. So #UseYourVote and ask others to do the same. While I’m on here then I’ll share a few things the EU he I’ll share some the European Union benefits for (young) people: 1. Education and training opportunities: Programs like Erasmus+ offer scholarships, internships, and exchanges, allowing young people to study, work, or volunteer abroad and gain valuable international experience. 📚📈 2. Employment and mobility: EU citizenship grants the right to work and reside in any EU country, enhancing job prospects and enabling people to pursue career opportunities across borders. 🇪🇺 3. Cultural exchange and diversity: The EU promotes cultural exchange and understanding through initiatives that celebrate diversity, fostering tolerance and cooperation among people from different backgrounds. 🫰🏼 4. Social and economic support: EU policies and funding programs aim to address youth unemployment and social inclusion, providing resources for training, entrepreneurship, and job creation especially targeted at young people. 5. Healthcare and its inclusivity: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), or "blue health card," allows us as EU citizens to access healthcare services during temporary stays in other EU countries, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, ensuring we receive medical treatment under the same conditions and at the same cost as residents of the country we're visiting, including necessary treatments and emergency care that are provided for free or at a reduced cost. (Also if someone still doesnt have it, it is very easy to get and in Estonia will be sent to your mailbox 🏥) 6. Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives: The EU is committed to tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development, offering opportunities for young people to engage in environmental activism, innovation, and advocacy. Hii Hanah Lahe 🫶🏼💚 As young people, voting allows us to have a say in shaping policies, influence the future of our country, and fulfill our civic duty to uphold democracy and protect our rights and freedoms. So #UseYourVote #AnnaOmaHääl #UsaTuVoto. 🗳️

🌍 Today I will also be participating in representation of the Spanish National Youth Council Consejo de la Juventud de España in the European Youth Forum (YFJ)'s research on Erasmus+ & the European Solidarity Corps. 👉 You can check the contribution of the Erasmus Student Network to the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 Mid-term Evaluation, which addresses aspects for improvement across five core areas: https://lnkd.in/d7RpmBF9

🌍Breaking Barriers: Empowering Society in EU Policy Discourse🚀   Engaging in discussions about EU Policy can be challenging, especially for youth, who often face language barriers and bureaucratic jargon. However, it's crucial that we break through these obstacles to focus on democratic participation and active citizenship.📚   One significant challenge we encounter is the diversity of languages spoken among EU member states. With 24 languages in the mix, it's not always easy, especially when not everyone has sufficient English proficiency.🗣️   Moreover, there's often a disconnect between the EU and our everyday realities. Many of us feel that EU policies are distant from our day-to-day experiences, making it challenging to relate to its initiatives.🤝   But fear not, I come bearing a solution!🎉👏💡   Introducing macro-regional strategies: These strategies define geographical commonalities across borders to address regional challenges, such as mobility in the Alpine region. By fostering cooperation with local organizations, we're not only overcoming language barriers but also bridging the gap between the EU and our daily lives.💬   A heartfelt thank you to the organizers of European Youth Week 2024 for inviting me to contribute to the panel discussion. It's an honor to be part of this important conversation aimed at empowering our society through active engagement with EU policies.🙌   The message is clear: We must empower civil society and youth to take the lead. They don't need to wait for the EU to initiate action. Let's voice our vision for our regions and create the change we want to see! 💪   #motivation #strategy #inspiration #EU European Commission, Francesco Amodeo,Luisa Marchionni, Joanna Jakubowska, Maya Fratoni, Sandra Pasaricek, Elisa Cocco, Erminia Lazzara, Astrid Aulnette, Beniamino Brunati (he/him)

🌟 Unveiling the impact: EU funds are a game-changer for inclusive education! 📚 Explore how these initiatives reshape Europe's educational scene. 🌐 https://lnkd.in/d5EMqA87 #EU #InclusiveEducation #ErasmusPlus #HorizonEurope #EducationPolicy #LifelongLearning #SocialInclusion #EUEducation