Youth associations insist on reconnection to Erasmus program
Published: Friday, Feb 9th 2024, 13:43
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Young people from Switzerland should once again be able to participate fully in the EU exchange program Erasmus Plus. Several youth associations are insisting on re-association with the program.
The Swiss Association of Youth Organizations (SAJV), the Association of Swiss Student Bodies (VSS) and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Switzerland backed up their demand with a symbolic engagement of Switzerland with Erasmus-Plus in Bern.
They chose Friday, the tenth anniversary of the SVP's mass immigration initiative. One consequence of this Yes vote was that Switzerland lost its connection to the EU's Horizon research program and the Erasmus Plus exchange program. Now that a draft mandate for negotiations with Brussels is available, the chances of re-association are intact again, the associations wrote.
With this campaign, they called on the Federal Council to "quickly issue a message on the funding of Erasmus Plus". Participation in exchange programs is crucial for the development of professional, personal and intercultural skills.
The associations are not satisfied with the Swiss replacement solution. A Swiss reconnection to Erasmus Plus would bring significant added value for students, but also for vocational education and training and extracurricular continuing education.
The cantons are also hoping for Switzerland's association in the near future. In its statement on the EU negotiating mandate, the Conference of Cantonal Governments stated that Switzerland's systematic participation in EU programs is a matter of great urgency. The negotiations must ensure Swiss participation in the 2021-2027 Horizon package and Erasmus+ 2021-2027 as quickly as possible.
According to the text of the speech, VSS Co-President Nadège Widmer said that nine cantons had submitted state initiatives, which in turn demanded that the Federal Council submit a funding message to parliament. The fact that the cantons supported the "Union" of Switzerland and Erasmus-Plus was extremely important.
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