EU to pay for 120,000 young Romanians to study or volunteer abroad via Erasmus + program

A new EU - funded program to support education for Romanian students abroad under the Erasmus + name was recently launched. Worth EUR 52 million in EU funding in 2014, the program's launch in Bucharest was attended by the European Commissioner for Education Androulla Vassiliou. The program will support 120,000 Romanians who want to study, get training, or volunteer abroad. The number of young Romanians supported via this program is double compared to previous programs financed by the EU. The aim is to support the most vulnerable young people, including those who are not employed and who do not get any form of education. “The program offers opportunities for non-formal education, for example via the European volunteering service, allowing young Romanians to increase their self esteem, find their way in life, and consolidate their competencies,” said Androulla Vassiliou. Between 2007 and 2013, around 80,000 students, young people, teachers, trainers received scholarships within a program called “Youth in action'. The programs were replaced by Erasmus +. For the period 2014 – 2020, the new program has a budget of EUR 14.7 billion across the EU, 40 percent more than the previous programs between 2007 and 2013. The Erasmus + program guide is here (in English, in pdf file). editor@romania-insider.com