Commissioner Vassiliou launches Erasmus+ in Greece

Erasmus+ – the EU`s new funding programme for education, training, youth and sport – was launched in Athens today by Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.

More than four million people, almost twice as many as now, will get an EU grant to study, train, gain work experience or volunteer abroad over the next seven years.

Erasmus+ will have a total budget of €14.7 billion – 40% more than under the previous programmes in 2017-2013.

The Cypriot Commissioner said that "investing in education and training is the best choice we can make for Europe`s future and its young people. The international experience gained through Erasmus+ will boost skills, personal development and employability”.

She added that “the budget increase we have secured means that many more people will benefit from EU support for these opportunities. We also need to invest more to improve the quality of education and training at all levels so we are a match for the best in the world and so that we can deliver more jobs and higher growth. Erasmus+ is all the more important at a time when many countries, including Greece, are facing very high levels of youth unemployment".