October 26, 2026

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October 26, 2026

Newsletter

The European Post

Policy • Diplomacy • strategic insight

LATEST
Hungarian Revolution Anniversary Draws Costa To Budapest ParliamentRecycling Claims On Plastic Bottles Face Tighter EU ScrutinyCommission Scraps Solar Glass Duties On Chinese Imports After 12 YearsCommon Fisheries Policy Reform Splits Fishers And Eco GroupsCosta Opens Bilateral Talks On EU Own Resources Before SummitEU-Türkiye High-Level Meeting Aims to Reboot Cyprus TalksStrait of Hormuz Diplomacy Finds Istanbul Before It Finds BrusselsFrozen EU Funds for Hungary Thaw After Magyar ReformsQuality Jobs Act Narrows to One Text as Ministers Weigh InRule of Law in Malta Under Pressure as Debate Splits MEPsNovember EU-UK Summit Tests An Emissions Trading Link And Youth DealGlobal Europe Budget Fight Opens As MEPs Add 25 Billion EurosRoadworthiness Package Talks Leave Odometer Rules To DecemberHired Vehicles Directive Delay Sends Bulgaria To CourtTax Information Exchange Penalties Too Low In Five StatesState Liability Row Returns Spain To Luxembourg JudgesSpace Threat Response Architecture Widens To Cover Member StatesExtended Producer Responsibility Eases For Small Packaging FirmsBrussels Tests A South Caucasus Peace Package Built On ConnectivityEU-China Trade Talks Yield Rare Earth Licences And A Hybrid Car DealHungarian Revolution Anniversary Draws Costa To Budapest ParliamentRecycling Claims On Plastic Bottles Face Tighter EU ScrutinyCommission Scraps Solar Glass Duties On Chinese Imports After 12 YearsCommon Fisheries Policy Reform Splits Fishers And Eco GroupsCosta Opens Bilateral Talks On EU Own Resources Before SummitEU-Türkiye High-Level Meeting Aims to Reboot Cyprus TalksStrait of Hormuz Diplomacy Finds Istanbul Before It Finds BrusselsFrozen EU Funds for Hungary Thaw After Magyar ReformsQuality Jobs Act Narrows to One Text as Ministers Weigh InRule of Law in Malta Under Pressure as Debate Splits MEPsNovember EU-UK Summit Tests An Emissions Trading Link And Youth DealGlobal Europe Budget Fight Opens As MEPs Add 25 Billion EurosRoadworthiness Package Talks Leave Odometer Rules To DecemberHired Vehicles Directive Delay Sends Bulgaria To CourtTax Information Exchange Penalties Too Low In Five StatesState Liability Row Returns Spain To Luxembourg JudgesSpace Threat Response Architecture Widens To Cover Member StatesExtended Producer Responsibility Eases For Small Packaging FirmsBrussels Tests A South Caucasus Peace Package Built On ConnectivityEU-China Trade Talks Yield Rare Earth Licences And A Hybrid Car Deal

Erasmus+ Budget Push Of 47 Billion Euros Tests Frugal Member States

Trond Rubeck
Policy Reporter, Culture and Education

Strasbourg: The Erasmus+ budget for 2028 to 2034 has become a bargaining chip in the EU’s budget fight, with the European Parliament backing 47.39 billion euros against a Commission proposal of about 40 billion. The Culture and Education committee voted in favour on 29 September 2026, and Parliament’s agenda scheduled a plenary vote for noon on 22 October.

Lead MEP Bogdan Zdrojewski, a Polish centre-right lawmaker, carries the file. He argues that the Erasmus+ budget needs a firm floor and clear earmarks for each sector, and he has warned that flexibility must not become a blank cheque. Parliament’s text would split money 74 percent to education and training, 15 percent to youth and volunteering and 4 percent to sport.

Inclusion is a central demand. MEPs want a 20 percent quota for participants with disadvantaged access to education and career opportunities, along with special programmes for adult learners and informal education. They also tie funding to rule-of-law and transparency standards.

That link has a Hungarian background. Hungarian universities have been unable to join Erasmus+ under Viktor Orbán, and Hungary is now preparing to rejoin under an agreement between its government and the Commission. Parliament wants any return to respect the new conditions.

The report opposes plans that would give the Commission more spending discretion and calls for clear earmarking across the programme’s key sectors, which is why the Erasmus+ budget debate is also a fight over control.

Scale and reach matter as well. About 17 million people have taken part since the programme began, and it reaches its 40th anniversary in 2027. The UK and Switzerland are set to rejoin in 2027, and Ukraine and Moldova may participate if they meet certain conditions.

The money is the hard part. Frugal governments such as Germany and the Netherlands want to pay less into the overall long-term budget, and the Erasmus+ budget competes with defence, competitiveness and farm spending for every euro. Zdrojewski said he counts on national capitals to defend the programme.

Parliament’s position is a negotiating mandate, not a final number. The Council must agree on the long-term budget by unanimity, and EU leaders have set themselves a target of December for a deal on own resources, according to reporting this month. Cuts to the overall framework would squeeze every programme.

Students, teachers and youth organisations will watch the vote closely. A strong plenary majority would strengthen Parliament’s hand, and the outcome will show how far the Erasmus+ budget can grow before talks with governments begin.

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