January 2013

Did you Know?

In an effort to cultivate dialogue and understanding between people and cultures and to enhance the quality of European higher education the European Commission created the Erasmus Programme. To find out more on how to join this programme go to the University of Nicosia Erasmus website.

EDC News: EU Crisis and the Erasmus Programme

Erasmus is an EU mobility programme established in 1987. It allows students, faculty and staff of European Universities to spend time in another EU institution. Erasmus is a part of the EU's Lifelong Learning programme and accounts for more than 40% of its budget.

The 2012 budget for all EU programmes faced a €9 billion shortfall. To counteract this shortfall the European Parliament and the Council agreed to provide a €6 billion top-up to pay the most pressing needs, with the rest (€2.9 bn) to be paid in 2013. The agreement means that the Commission can now transfer necessary funds to the national agencies which are responsible for running Erasmus in the Member States.

In addition to this the Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement that around €500 million of the EU budget will be allocated to Erasmus and €1015 million for the Lifelong Learning Programme as a whole. As a result, the Member States and the European Parliament have averted a funding crisis which threatened the Erasmus Programme.

Additional information links:

• Erasmus Programme and the University Of Nicosia

• New Erasmus programme for 2014: Erasmus for All – This is the new programme proposed by the European Commission for education, training, youth and sport. It will significantly increase the funds allocated for the development of knowledge and skills.

• European Commission: Education and training