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Press release 28-09-2026 CULT    Erasmus+ programme 2028-2034: press conference with rapporteur Bogdan Zdrojewski     On Tuesday at 11.00, the rapporteur for the Erasmus+ programme for 2028 to 2034 will hold a press conference after the vote by the Committee on Culture and Education. The rapporteur for the EU landmark programme for learning mobility, Bogdan Zdrojewski (EPP, PL), will present the main outlines of his report, which focuses on the need for increased financing of over €47 billion in current prices, with clear earmarking of each policy field. One of the first funding programmes from the next EU long-term budget to be voted at committee level, this programme merges Erasmus+ with the European Solidarity Corps, and will still be the EU's main instrument for funding projects in the areas of education, youth, volunteering and sport. When: Tuesday 29 September, 11.00 CEST Where: Brussels, European Parliament, Anna Politkovskaya press conference room How: Accredited media representatives are invited to attend the press conference in person. In addition, journalists wishing to ask questions remotely need to connect via Interactio (supported on iPad with Safari and Mac/Windows with Google Chrome). Interpretation will be available in the following languages: EN, FR, ES, IT and PL. The press conference will also be webstreamed live and recorded on the Parliament’s Multimedia Centre. Further information Committee on Culture and Education Procedure file Study requested by the Committee: Erasmus+: Evolution, Structural Challenges and Future Design (1.6.2026) Policy department briefing: Participation in Erasmus+ in numbers (1.6.2026) EPRS briefing: A reworked Erasmus+ for 2028-2034 Press release 28-09-2026 SEDE   Defence innovation: MEPs push for more support for SMEs and start-ups       Security and Defence Committee MEPs call on the EU to make it easier for smaller companies to play their part in improving the EU’s defence readiness. In a report adopted by the Security and Defence Committee, which looks at ways for new EU defence actors to establish themselves and scale up production, MEPs recognise that the EU’s defence start-ups and small and medium sized companies (SMEs) currently face two distinct “valleys of death”. The first is the phase between technological development and capability validation, and the second is stage between validated capability and market adoption. The MEPs stress that EU instruments must address both these problem areas and help successful EU-funded projects to obtain their first contracts and secure subsequent procurement by member states’ armed forces. They also underline the importance for smaller defence companies of access to testing facilities, demonstration and validation activities, military end-users, and certification infrastructure. The report accepts that the EU defence market must develop under the principles of fair competition, while recognising the vital role of SMEs, start-ups and small mid-caps as the primary sources of technological dynamism in the European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB). To this end, MEPs call for better incentives for SME participation in the EU defence market and for action to ease the disproportionate administrative burdens and lengthy funding, testing and procurement procedures facing many smaller and non-traditional defence companies in the EU today. More support for drones, better access to financing The text welcomes NATO’s initiative to connect EU defence innovators with civilian companies that have spare production facilities and calls on the European Commission to mirror such initiatives. Given the role and rapid evolution of unmanned aircraft and counter-unmanned aircraft systems in the context of modern warfare, MEPs also call on the EU executive to provide more dedicated support within EU defence programmes for autonomous systems, C-UAS (counter unmanned aerial systems) and next generation drone technologies, once again stressing the role smaller companies can play in this domain. The report further emphasises the need to improve defence companies’ access to finance, for instance smoothing ways to crowd in private capital, while expressing concern that many European defence actors are forced to sell to non-EU investors or relocate because of a lack of available and willing capital within the EU. The EU must continue to draw on Ukrainian defence know-how The security and defence MEPs welcome successful examples of structured defence innovation cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, including through joint ventures or contracts to facilitate technology exchange and the inclusion of Ukrainian know-how in EU military capabilities. They call on EU member states and the European Defence Agency to draw on Ukraine’s experience in compressing innovation, procurement, certification and capability development timelines when reforming their national defence innovation processes. The text was adopted by 23 votes in favour, 5 against, with 1 abstention. Quote “Europe is great at producing brilliant ideas and prototypes, but too often they never reach full-scale production, or if they do, it happens outside Europe. That has to change. Our innovators don't need yet another grant; they need a first contract, a place to test their products alongside soldiers, and one certification valid across the EU instead of a separate one for every country. If we want Europe to be able to defend itself, the best ideas must be built here and reach our armed forces in months, not years”, said rapporteur Mārtiņš Staķis (The Greens/EFA, Latvia). Background Despite SMEs providing approximately 70% of the total value of European defence systems and accounting for the majority of firms operating within the EDTIB, they continue to face disproportionate financial, regulatory and political barriers, particularly at national level, to scaling their innovations. Since the first European Defence Fund call in 2021, the EU has only allocated 7% of total financing to project lines linked to “innovation and SMEs”. Further information Procedure file External study commissioned by the Security and Defence Committee: “Advancing the inclusion of SMEs in the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base” (24.7.2026) EP Multimedia Centre: free photos, video and audio material   Available in       Press release 29-09-2026 CULT   Erasmus+: MEPs push to make 2028-2034 programme more accessible       • Increased funding with clear earmarks for defined fields and policies: education and training, youth and volunteering, and sport   • Mobility for all to take into account differences in living costs, housing prices and inflation   • Grants under the new Erasmus+ need to respect EU financial interests and values   Culture and education committee MEPs want the next Erasmus+ programme to be simpler, more predictable, and more accessible. The Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) voted on Tuesday to amend a Commission proposal for the 2028-2034 Erasmus+ programme. With around 17 million participants since its creation in 1987 and its 40th anniversary set to take place in 2027, Erasmus+ is the main EU funding instrument for mobility in education and training, youth and volunteering, and sport. More funds MEPs want to increase the programme budget to €47.39 billion (in current prices), in comparison to the proposed €40.8 billion by the Commission, to make sure the programme’s stated ambitions are adequately funded. In order to simplify the management of Erasmus+ and to make it more predictable, they also proposed a clear distribution of funds between its different policy fields: education and training (74.6% of the total amount), youth and volunteering (15%), and sport (4.1%), as well as within each field. MEPs want to strengthen the conditions for Erasmus+ to be combined with other EU funds and initiatives. They also support a requirement that grants under Erasmus+ have to continue to respect the EU's financial interests and values ​​enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. Supporting inclusion, teachers and athletes CULT MEPs argue that support for opportunities to take part in educational and youth exchanges as a part of Erasmus+ should consider differences in living costs, housing prices, inflation and purchasing power between host countries, regions and cities. They want the new programme to be more inclusive and that at least 20% of Erasmus+ participants should be people with less access to career and educational opportunities. MEPs also believe the new Erasmus+ should help to implement the upcoming EU teachers and trainers agenda and lead to policy developments which will improve teacher recruitment and retention. For the first time Erasmus+ should, MEPs say, facilitate the mobility of athletes in grassroots sports, and not only the staff of sport clubs or organisations. Building upon the European Solidarity Corps MEPs support the Commission’s proposal to merge the current Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, including the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. European Solidarity Corps best practices will be applied in the new Erasmus+. Quote “Erasmus+ is one of the EU’s most recognised programmes, creating opportunities for millions of Europeans to learn, teach, train, and gain international experience. The decisions we make today will shape those opportunities for years to come. As the programme evolves, we must ensure that it remains accessible, simple to navigate and responsive to the needs of young people, students, school pupils, teachers and organisations across Europe and beyond,” rapporteur Bogdan Zdrojewski (EPP, PL) said. Next steps CULT’s position was approved by 24 votes to one and with one abstention. It will be put to a vote for the whole Parliament at an upcoming plenary session. Once approved, negotiations with the Council of the EU, which has agreed its position in May 2026, can start. Background The Commission proposed the new Erasmus+ regulation on 16 July 2025. The legislation is part of the EU’s 2028–2034 long-term budget (MFF) package. Parliament wants the budget to remain a strong investment tool that supports citizens, regions and businesses, while delivering clear added value beyond national budgets. MEPs propose increasing the size of the draft budget to meet new challenges and they insist on the importance of new revenue sources to fund an ambitious and sustainable budget. Find out more information. Further information Compromise amendments on next generation Erasmus+ programme Webstreaming of press conference with rapporteur Bogdan Zdrojewski after the vote (29.9.2026) Profile of the rapporteur Bogdan Zdrojewski (EPP, PL) Procedure file Study requested by the Committee: Erasmus+: Evolution, Structural Challenges and Future Design (1.6.2026) Policy department briefing: Participation in Erasmus+ in numbers (1.6.2026) EPRS briefing: A reworked Erasmus+ for 2028-2034 Committee on Culture and Education