Erasmus cuts send 'wrong signal'

Published: Fri 2 Nov 2012, 12:04 PM

Several MEPs have warned that if planned cuts to the Erasmus exchange programme go ahead next year, it would be a "serious retrograde step" that would badly affect disadvantaged students.The European Commission has said that if it cannot address a budgetary shortfall of â¬90m, it will be forced to reduce the number of places offered to students on the Erasmus programme or cut the level of grant aid.About three million European college-goers, including at least 3,000 Irish students, are currently engaged in study programmes at foreign universities under the Erasmus programme for periods of between three and nine months this year.Irish MEP Liam Aylward said most of the student interns in his Brussels office have availed of the Erasmus programme to help kick-start their careers."If I go downtown in Brussels I can hear a whole load of Irish students who are participating in the Erasmus programme. It has been a huge success," said Mr Aylward."Irish colleges and universities have benefited immensely, and for the students themselves, it opens Europe up to them. Many of them follow it up when they have finished college by coming back to Europe, it helps to launch their careers."The Fianna Fáil MEP also cautioned that reducing the level of the grant would particularly affect disadvantaged students. "It's a top-up grant to help students with expenses such as travel and accommodation costs, in addition to the student grant they get at home. Obviously, any cuts will hit the most vulnerable the hardest, and at a time of huge unemployment across Europe, this would most definitely send the wrong signal," said Mr Aylward.He added that while those students who are currently engaged in the programme will not be affected, he is concerned for college-goers planning to study abroad with the Erasmus programme in 2013.Another MEP, Hannes Swoboda, added that one of the most important symbols of European identity was at stake. "We are telling young people who want to be European, 'sorry we do not have enough money,'" he said.