28.11.2022

A wider access to Erasmus+ programme is needed in Eastern Europe

EAEA urges the EU to offer more opportunities for participation of Eastern European non-EU countries in the Erasmus+ programme.

Read our full statement (pdf)

EAEA members greatly appreciate the Erasmus+ programme, which drives innovation, improves participation and quality of adult learning provision; the importance of the programme has been continuously highlighted by EAEA in its advocacy work. That said, non-EU countries in Eastern Europe still face barriers to access the Erasmus+ programme, especially if they work in the non-formal adult education sector.

As of 2022, only Serbia, Turkey and North Macedonia are third countries associated to the Programme and can access all its actions. Other countries, such as Western Balkans (Region 1) and Neighbourhood East (Region 2), can access certain actions, but not those in adult learning and education.

To better serve the needs of non-EU countries based in Eastern Europe, EAEA recommends the following improvements to the Erasmus+ programme:

  • Third countries associated to the programme, including those from Regions 1 and 2, should be eligible to participate in actions on adult learning and education.
  • Capacity-building actions in the Erasmus+ programme should also be open to adult learning and education.
  • More support to Erasmus+ applicants is needed to better serve the needs of non-EU countries based in Eastern Europe.
  • Non-EU countries based in Eastern Europe have specific needs that should be taken into consideration when assessing Erasmus+ applications.

 

07.05.2025 twin transition

Building agency of adult educators in advocating for the Twin Transition: ALE4TT Training

From May 5–7, 2025, EAEA, in cooperation with SVEB and ICAE, organised a training titled “Making the Case for Adult Learning and Twin Transitions: From the EU to Local Perspectives.” The training was held as part of the ALE4TT (Adult Learning and Education for the Twin Transition) project, co-funded by Movetia. Over three days, the training brought together 15 ALE educators eager to learn more about the twin transition and how to advocate for it.

29.04.2025 skills

EAEA strengthens its commitment to skilling and upskilling initiatives by joining the Pact for Skills

The European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) is pleased to announce that we have officially joined the European Commission’s Pact for Skills initiative.

18.04.2025 active ageing

Active ageing and the importance of learning in later life 

Older people, defined by Eurostat as those aged 65 years or more, are projected to make up 129.8 million of the EU population by 2050, a significant increase when compared to the 90.5 million at the start of 2019.