Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing 'Erasmus+': the Union programme for education, training, youth and sport and repealing Decisions No 1719/2006/EC, No 1720/2006/EC and No 1298/2008/EC Text with EEA relevance - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 347/50

The Commission's communication of 29 June 2011 entitled 'A Budget for Europe 2020' calls for a single programme in the field of education, training, youth and sport, including the international aspects of higher education, bringing together the action programme in the field of lifelong learning ('Lifelong Learning') established by Decision No 1720/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (4), the Youth in Action programme ('Youth in Action') established by Decision No 1719/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (5), the Erasmus Mundus action programme ('Erasmus Mundus') established by Decision No 1298/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (6), the ALFA III programme established by Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7), and the Tempus and Edulink programmes, in order to ensure greater efficiency, a stronger strategic focus and synergies to be exploited between the various aspects of the single programme. In addition, sport is proposed as part of that single programme (the 'Programme').

The interim evaluation reports of the existing Lifelong Learning, Youth in Action and Erasmus Mundus programmes and the public consultation on the future of Union action in education, training and youth, as well as in higher education, revealed a strong and in some respects growing need for continuing cooperation and mobility in those fields at European level. The evaluation reports emphasised the importance of creating closer links between Union programmes and policy developments in education, training and youth, expressed the wish that Union action should be structured in such a way as to respond better to the lifelong learning paradigm, and pressed for a simpler, more user-friendly and more flexible approach to implementing such action and the end of the fragmentation of international higher education cooperation programmes.

The Programme should focus on the accessibility of funding and the transparency of administrative and financial procedures, including through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and digitisation. Streamlining and simplifying the organisation and management, and a sustained focus on reducing administrative expenditure, are also vital to the success of the Programme.

The public consultation on the Union's strategic choices for the implementation of the new Union competence in the field of sport and the Commission's evaluation report on preparatory actions in the field of sport provided useful indications regarding priority areas for Union action, and illustrated the added value that the Union can bring in supporting activities aimed at generating, sharing and spreading experiences and knowledge about different issues affecting sport at the European level, provided that they are focused in particular at grassroots level.

The Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth defines the Union's growth strategy for the coming decade to support such growth, setting five ambitious objectives to be reached by 2020, particularly in the field of education, where the aim is to reduce early school-leaving rates to a level below 10 % and to enable at least 40 % of 30-34 year-olds to have completed tertiary or equivalent education. This also includes its flagship initiatives, in particular Youth on the Move and the Agenda for New Skills and Jobs.

In its conclusions of 12 May 2009, the Council called for a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020), setting up four strategic objectives with a view to responding to the challenges that remain in creating a knowledge-based Europe and making lifelong learning a reality for all.

Pursuant to Articles 8 and 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), as well as Articles 21 and 23 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the Programme promotes inter alia equality between men and women and measures to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. There is a need to widen access for members of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and actively to address the special learning needs of people with disabilities in the implementation of the Programme.

The Programme should include a strong international dimension, particularly as regards higher education, in order not only to enhance the quality of European higher education in pursuit of the broader ET 2020 objectives and the attractiveness of the Union as a study destination, but also to promote understanding between people and to contribute to the sustainable development of higher education in partner countries, as well as their broader socio-economic development, inter alia by stimulating ″brain circulation″ through mobility actions with partner-country nationals. To that end, funding should be made available from the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) and the Partnership Instrument for cooperation with third countries (PI). Funds might also be made available from the European Development Fund (EDF) in accordance with the procedures governing it. The provisions of this Regulation should apply to the use of those funds, while ensuring conformity with the respective Regulations establishing those instruments and that fund.

In its resolution of 27 November 2009 on a renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018), the Council emphasised the need to consider all young people as a resource in society and sought to facilitate their participation in the development of policies affecting them by means of a continuous structured dialogue between decision-makers and young people and youth organisations at all levels.

Bringing formal, non-formal and informal learning together in a single programme should create synergies and foster cross-sectoral cooperation across the various education, training and youth sectors. During the implementation of the Programme, the specific needs of the various sectors and, where appropriate, the role of local and regional authorities should be duly taken into account.

To support mobility, equity and study excellence, the Union should establish, on a pilot basis, a Student Loan Guarantee Facility to enable students, regardless of their social background, to take their Master's degree in another country to which participation in the Programme is open (the 'Programme country'). The Student Loan Guarantee Facility should be available to financial institutions which agree to offer loans for Master's studies in other Programme countries on favourable terms for students. This additional and innovative tool for learning mobility should neither replace any current, nor impede the development of any future, grant or loan system supporting student mobility at local, national or Union level. The Student Loan Guarantee Facility should be subject to close monitoring and evaluation, in particular concerning its market uptake in different countries. In accordance with Article 21(2) and (3), a mid-term evaluation report should be submitted to the European Parliament and to the Council no later than the end of 2017, with a view to obtaining political guidance on the continuation of the Student Loan Guarantee Facility.

Member States should endeavour to adopt all appropriate measures to remove legal and administrative obstacles to the proper functioning of the Programme. This includes resolving, where possible, administrative issues that create difficulties in obtaining visas and residency permits. In line with Council Directive 2004/114/EC (8), Member States are encouraged to establish fast-track admission procedures.

The Commission's communication of 20 September 2011 entitled 'Supporting growth and jobs – an agenda for the modernisation of Europe's higher education systems' sets out a framework within which the Union, Member States and higher education institutions can cooperate to boost the number of graduates, to improve the quality of education and to maximise the contribution that higher education and research can make to helping Member States' economies and societies emerge stronger from the global economic crisis.

In order to better address youth unemployment in the Union, particular attention should be paid to transnational cooperation between higher and vocational education institutions and businesses, with a view to improving students' employability and developing entrepreneurial skills.

The Bologna Declaration, signed by the Education Ministers of 29 European countries on 19 June 1999, established an intergovernmental process aimed at creating a European area of higher education, which requires continuous support at Union level.

The crucial role played by vocational education and training (VET) in helping to achieve a number of targets set out in the Europe 2020 strategy is widely acknowledged and defined in the renewed Copenhagen process (2011-2020), taking into account, in particular, its potential in addressing Europe's high level of unemployment, especially youth unemployment and long-term unemployment, promoting a culture of lifelong learning, countering social exclusion and promoting active citizenship. Quality traineeships and apprenticeships, including those in micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises, are needed in order to bridge the gap between the knowledge acquired through education and training and the skills and competences required in the world of work, as well as to enhance the employability of young people.

It is necessary to strengthen the intensity and extent of European cooperation between schools, and of the mobility of school staff and learners, in order to address the priorities set out in the Agenda for European Cooperation on Schools for the 21st century, namely to improve the quality of school education in the Union in the fields of competence development and in order to improve equity and inclusion within school systems and institutions, as well as to reinforce and provide support for the teaching profession and school leadership. In this context, the strategic targets on reducing early school leaving, improving performance in basic skills, and improving participation and quality in early childhood education and care, should be prioritised along with targets reinforcing the professional competences of school teachers and school leaders, and improving the educational opportunities for children with a migrant background and those at a socio-economic disadvantage.

The renewed European Agenda for Adult Learning included in the Council's resolution of 28 November 2011 aims at enabling all adults to develop and enhance their skills and competences throughout their lives. Particular attention should be paid to improving learning opportunities for the high number of low-skilled Europeans, in particular by improving literacy and numeracy and by promoting flexible learning pathways and second-chance measures.

The action of the European Youth Forum, the National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC), the Eurydice, Euroguidance and Eurodesk networks, the eTwinning National Support Services, the National Europass Centres, and the National Information Offices in the neighbourhood countries is essential in order to achieve the objectives of the Programme, in particular by providing the Commission with regular, updated information regarding their various fields of activity and through the dissemination of the Programme results in the Union and in the partner countries.

Cooperation under the Programme with international organisations in the field of education, training, youth and sport, in particular with the Council of Europe, should be strengthened.

In order to contribute to the development of excellence in European integration studies worldwide, and to respond to the increasing need for knowledge of, and dialogue on, the European integration process and its development, it is important to stimulate excellence in teaching, research and reflection in this area by supporting academic institutions, associations active in the field of European integration and associations pursuing an aim of European interest, through the Jean Monnet Action.

Cooperation under the Programme with civil society organisations in the fields of education, training, youth and sport, at national and Union level is of great importance in order to create a broad sense of ownership in relation to lifelong learning strategies and policies and to take into consideration stakeholders' ideas and concerns at all levels.

The Commission's communication of 18 January 2011 entitled 'Developing the European Dimension in Sport' sets out the Commission's ideas for action at Union level in the field of sport following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, and proposes a list of concrete actions to be taken by the Commission and Member States in order to increase sport's European identity in three broad chapters: the societal role of sport, the economic dimension of sport and the organisation of sport. It is also necessary to take into account the added value of sport, including indigenous sport, and its contribution to the Union's cultural and historical heritage.

There is a need to focus in particular on grassroots sport and volunteering in sport, on account of the important role that they play in promoting social inclusion, equal opportunities and health-enhancing physical activity.

Improved transparency and recognition of qualifications and competences and extended acceptance of Union transparency and recognition tools should contribute to the development of quality education and training, and facilitate mobility for both lifelong learning and occupational purposes throughout Europe, between countries as well as across sectors. Opening up access to methods, practices and technologies used in other countries will help to improve employability.

To that end, it is recommended that extended use be made of the single Union framework for the transparency of qualifications and competences (Europass) established by Decision No 2241/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (9), the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) and the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) established pursuant to Recommendation 2006/143/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (10), the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) established pursuant to the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 (11), the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) established pursuant to the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 (12), the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training (EQAVET) established pursuant to the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 (13) and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

In order to ensure greater efficiency in communication to the public at large and stronger synergies between the communication activities undertaken at the initiative of the Commission, the resources allocated to communication under this Regulation should also contribute to covering the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, provided that these are related to the general objective of this Regulation.

It is necessary to ensure the European added value of all actions carried out within the framework of the Programme, and their complementarity with activities undertaken by the Member States in compliance with Article 167(4) of the TFEU and with other activities, in particular those in the fields of culture and the media, employment, research and innovation, industry and enterprise, cohesion and development policy, as well as enlargement policy and initiatives, instruments and strategies in the field of regional policy and external relations.

The Programme is designed to have a positive and sustainable impact on education, training, youth and sport policies and practices. That systemic impact should be achieved through the various actions and activities envisaged in the Programme, which aim at fostering changes at institutional level and which lead, where appropriate, to innovation at system level. Individual projects for which financial support is sought from the Programme are not required to have any systemic impact as such. It is the cumulative result of those projects that should contribute to the attainment of systemic impact.

Effective performance management, including evaluation and monitoring, requires the development of specific, measurable and realistic performance indicators which can be measured over time and which reflect the logic of the intervention.

The Commission and the Member States should optimise the use of ICTs and new technologies in order to facilitate access to actions relating to education, training, youth and sport. This could include virtual mobility, which should complement, but not replace, learning mobility.

This Regulation lays down a financial envelope for the entire duration of the Programme which is to constitute the prime reference amount, within the meaning of Point 17 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (14), for the European Parliament and the Council during the annual budgetary procedure.

In order to ensure continuity in the funding support provided under the Programme to the functioning of bodies, the Commission should be able during the initial phase of the Programme to consider the costs directly linked to the implementation of the supported activities as eligible for financing, even if they were incurred by the beneficiary before the grant application was submitted.

There is a need to establish performance criteria on which the allocation of budget funds between Member States for the actions managed by the national agencies should be based.

The candidate countries for accession to the Union and those European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries which form part of the European Economic Area (EEA) may participate in Union programmes on the basis of framework agreements, Association Council decisions or similar agreements.

The Swiss Confederation may participate in the Union programmes in accordance with an agreement to be signed between the Union and that country.

Individuals from an overseas country or territory (OCT) and competent public and/or private bodies and institutions from an OCT may participate in the programmes in accordance with Council Decision 2001/822/EC (15). The constraints imposed by the remoteness of the outermost regions of the Union and the OCTs should be taken into account when implementing the Programme.

The Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in their joint communication of 25 May 2011 entitled 'A new response to a changing Neighbourhood', outlined, inter alia, the aim of further facilitating neighbourhood countries' participation in Union mobility and capacity-building actions in higher education and the opening of the future education programme to the neighbourhood countries.

The financial interests of the Union should be protected through proportionate measures throughout the expenditure cycle, including the prevention, detection and investigation of irregularities, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, penalties. While Union external assistance has an increasing need for financing, the economic and budgetary situation of the Union limits the resources available for such assistance. The Commission should, therefore, seek the most efficient and sustainable use of available resources, in particular through the use of financial instruments with leverage effect.

In order to enhance access to the Programme, the grants to support the mobility of individuals should be adjusted to the living and subsistence costs of the host country. In accordance with national law, Member States should also be encouraged to exempt those grants from any taxes and social levies. The same exemption should apply to public or private bodies awarding such financial support to the individuals concerned.

In accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (16), volunteer time can be recognised as co-financing in the form of contributions in kind.

In its communication of 29 June 2011 entitled 'A Budget for Europe 2020', the Commission underlined its commitment to simplifying Union funding. The creation of a single programme on education, training, youth and sport should result in significant simplification, rationalisation and synergies in the management of the Programme. The implementation of the Programme should be further simplified by the use of lump-sum, unit-cost or flat-rate funding, as well as by reducing formal and bureaucratic requirements for beneficiaries and Member States.

Improving implementation and the quality of spending should constitute guiding principles for achieving the objectives of the Programme, whilst ensuring the optimal use of the financial resources.

It is important to ensure sound financial management of the Programme and its implementation in the most effective and user-friendly manner possible, whilst also ensuring legal certainty and the accessibility of the Programme to all participants.

In order to ensure a quick response to changing needs throughout the duration of the Programme, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of provisions relating to additional actions managed by the national agencies. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure the simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.

In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (17).

The Programme should cover three different fields, and the committee established under this Regulation should deal with both horizontal and sectoral issues. It is for the Member States to ensure that they send the relevant representatives to attend meetings of that committee in accordance with the topics on its agenda, and it is for the committee chair to ensure that meeting agendas clearly indicate the sector or sectors involved and the topics, according to each sector, to be discussed at each meeting. Where appropriate, and in accordance with the committee's rules of procedure and on an ad hoc basis, it should be possible to invite external experts, including representatives of the social partners, to participate in the committee meetings as observers.

It is appropriate to ensure the correct closure of the Programme, in particular as regards the continuation of multi-annual arrangements for its management, such as the financing of technical and administrative assistance. As from 1 January 2014, the technical and administrative assistance should ensure, if necessary, the management of actions that have not yet been finalised under the predecessor programmes by the end of 2013.

Since the objective of this Regulation, namely to establish the Programme, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of its scale and effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty of the European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.

Decisions No 1719/2006/EC, No 1720/2006/EC and No 1298/2008/EC should therefore be repealed.

In order to ensure continuity in the funding support provided under the Programme, this Regulation should apply from 1 January 2014. For reasons of urgency, this Regulation should enter into force as soon as possible after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

education and training at all levels, in a lifelong learning perspective, including school education (Comenius), higher education (Erasmus), international higher education (Erasmus Mundus), vocational education and training (Leonardo da Vinci) and adult learning (Grundtvig);

youth (Youth in Action), particularly in the context of non-formal and informal learning;

sport, in particular grassroots sport.

'lifelong learning' means all general education, vocational education and training, non-formal learning and informal learning undertaken throughout life, resulting in an improvement in knowledge, skills and competences or participation in society within a personal, civic, cultural, social and/or employment-related perspective, including the provision of counselling and guidance services;

'non-formal learning' means learning which takes place through planned activities (in terms of learning objectives and learning time) where some form of learning support is present (e.g. a student-teacher relationship), but which is not part of the formal education and training system;

'informal learning' means learning resulting from daily activities related to work, family or leisure which is not organised or structured in terms of objectives, time or learning support; it may be unintentional from the learner's perspective;

'structured dialogue' means the dialogue with young people and youth organisations which serves as a forum for continuous joint reflection on the priorities, implementation and follow-up of European cooperation in the youth field;

'transnational' relates, unless otherwise indicated, to any action involving at least two Programme countries as referred to in Article 24(1);

'international' relates to any action involving at least one Programme country and at least one third country ('partner country');

'learning mobility' means moving physically to a country other than the country of residence, in order to undertake study, training or non-formal or informal learning; it may take the form of traineeships, apprenticeships, youth exchanges, volunteering, teaching or participation in a professional development activity, and may include preparatory activities, such as training in the host language, as well as sending, hosting and follow-up activities;

'cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices' means transnational and international cooperation projects involving organisations active in the fields of education, training and/or youth, and may include other organisations;

'support for policy reform' means any type of activity aimed at supporting and facilitating the modernisation of education and training systems, as well as support for the development of European youth policy, through the process of policy cooperation between Member States, in particular the Open Method of Coordination and the structured dialogue with young people;

'virtual mobility' means a set of activities supported by information and communications technology, including e-learning, organised at institutional level, that realise or facilitate transnational and/or international, collaborative experiences in a context of teaching and/or learning;

'staff' means persons who, on either a professional or a voluntary basis, are involved in education, training or youth non-formal learning, and may include professors, teachers, trainers, school leaders, youth workers and non-educational staff;

'youth worker' means a professional or a volunteer involved in non-formal learning who supports young people in their personal socio-educational and professional development;

'young people' means individuals aged between 13 and 30;

'higher education institution' means:

'joint degrees' means an integrated study programme offered by at least two higher education institutions resulting in a single degree certificate issued and signed by all the participating institutions jointly and recognised officially in the countries where the participating institutions are located;

'double degree/multiple degree' means a study programme offered by at least two (double) or more (multiple) higher education institutions whereby the student receives, upon completion of the study programme, a separate degree certificate from each of the participating institutions;

'youth activity' means an out-of-school activity (such as youth exchange, volunteering or youth training) carried out by a young person, either individually or in a group, in particular through youth organisations, and characterised by a non-formal learning approach;

'partnership' means an agreement between a group of institutions and/or organisations in different Programme countries to carry out joint European activities in the fields of education, training, youth and sport or establishing a formal or informal network in a relevant field such as joint learning projects for pupils and their teachers in the form of class exchanges and individual long-term mobility, intensive programmes in higher education and cooperation between regional and local authorities to foster inter-regional, including cross-border, cooperation; it may be extended to institutions and/or organisations from partner countries with a view to strengthening the quality of the partnership;

'key competences' means the basic set of knowledge, skills and attitudes which all individuals need for personal fulfilment and development, active citizenship, social inclusion and employment, as described in Recommendation 2006/962/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (18);

'Open Method of Coordination' (OMC) means an intergovernmental method providing a framework for cooperation between the Member States, whose national policies can thus be directed towards certain common objectives; within the scope of the Programme, the OMC applies to education, training and youth;

'Union transparency and recognition tools' means instruments that help stakeholders to understand, appreciate and, as appropriate, recognise learning outcomes and qualifications throughout the Union;

'neighbourhood countries' means the countries and territories covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy;

'dual career' means the combination of high-level sports training with general education or work;

'grassroots sport' means organised sport practised at local level by amateur sportspeople, and sport for all.

transnational character, particularly with regard to mobility and cooperation aimed at achieving a sustainable systemic impact;

complementarity and synergy with other programmes and policies at national, Union and international level;

contribution to the effective use of Union transparency and recognition tools.

the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy, including the headline education target;

the objectives of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training ('ET 2020'), including the corresponding benchmarks;

the sustainable development of partner countries in the field of higher education;

the overall objectives of the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018);

the objective of developing the European dimension in sport, in particular grassroots sport, in line with the Union work plan for sport; and

the promotion of European values in accordance with Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union.

to improve the level of key competences and skills, with particular regard to their relevance for the labour market and their contribution to a cohesive society, in particular through increased opportunities for learning mobility and through strengthened cooperation between the world of education and training and the world of work;

to foster quality improvements, innovation excellence and internationalisation at the level of education and training institutions, in particular through enhanced transnational cooperation between education and training providers and other stakeholders;

to promote the emergence and raise awareness of a European lifelong learning area designed to complement policy reforms at national level and to support the modernisation of education and training systems, in particular through enhanced policy cooperation, better use of Union transparency and recognition tools and the dissemination of good practices;

to enhance the international dimension of education and training, in particular through cooperation between Union and partner-country institutions in the field of VET and in higher education, by increasing the attractiveness of European higher education institutions and supporting the Union's external action, including its development objectives, through the promotion of mobility and cooperation between the Union and partner-country higher education institutions and targeted capacity-building in partner countries;

to improve the teaching and learning of languages and to promote the Union's broad linguistic diversity and intercultural awareness;

to promote excellence in teaching and research activities in European integration through the Jean Monnet activities worldwide, as referred to in Article 10.

learning mobility of individuals;

cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices; and

support for policy reform.

the mobility of students in all cycles of higher education and of students, apprentices and pupils in vocational education and training. This mobility may take the form of studying at a partner institution or traineeships or gaining experience as an apprentice, assistant or trainee abroad. Degree mobility at Master's level may be supported through the Student Loan Guarantee Facility referred to in Article 20;

the mobility of staff, within the Programme countries referred to in Article 24(1). This mobility may take the form of teaching or assistantships or participation in professional development activities abroad.

strategic partnerships between organisations and/or institutions involved in education and training or other relevant sectors aimed at developing and implementing joint initiatives and promoting peer learning and exchanges of experience;

partnerships between the world of work and education and training institutions in the form of:

IT support platforms, covering all education and training sectors, including in particular eTwinning, allowing peer learning, virtual mobility and exchanges of good practices and opening access for participants from neighbourhood countries.

the implementation of the Union policy agenda on education and training in the context of the OMC, as well as to the Bologna and Copenhagen processes;

the implementation in Programme countries of Union transparency and recognition tools, in particular the single Union framework for the transparency of qualifications and competences (Europass), the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET), the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training (EQAVET), the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) and the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), and the provision of support to Union-wide networks and European non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active in the field of education and training;

the policy dialogue with relevant European stakeholders in the field of education and training;

NARIC, the Eurydice and Euroguidance networks, and the National Europass Centres.

promote teaching and research on European integration worldwide among specialist academics, learners and citizens, in particular through the creation of Jean Monnet Chairs and other academic activities, as well as by providing aid for other knowledge-building activities at higher education institutions;

support the activities of academic institutions or associations active in the field of European integration studies and support a Jean Monnet label for excellence;

support the following institutions pursuing an aim of European interest:

promote policy debate and exchanges between the academic world and policy-makers on Union policy priorities.

to improve the level of key competences and skills of young people, including those with fewer opportunities, as well as to promote participation in democratic life in Europe and the labour market, active citizenship, intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and solidarity, in particular through increased learning mobility opportunities for young people, those active in youth work or youth organisations and youth leaders, and through strengthened links between the youth field and the labour market;

to foster quality improvements in youth work, in particular through enhanced cooperation between organisations in the youth field and/or other stakeholders;

to complement policy reforms at local, regional and national level and to support the development of knowledge and evidence-based youth policy as well as the recognition of non-formal and informal learning, in particular through enhanced policy cooperation, better use of Union transparency and recognition tools and the dissemination of good practices;

to enhance the international dimension of youth activities and the role of youth workers and organisations as support structures for young people in complementarity with the Union's external action, in particular through the promotion of mobility and cooperation between the Union and partner-country stakeholders and international organisations and through targeted capacity-building in partner countries.

learning mobility of individuals;

cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices;

support for policy reform.

the mobility of young people in non-formal and informal learning activities between the Programme countries; such mobility may take the form of youth exchanges and volunteering through the European Voluntary Service, as well as innovative activities building on existing provisions for mobility;

the mobility of persons active in youth work or youth organisations and youth leaders; such mobility may take the form of training and networking activities.

strategic partnerships aimed at developing and implementing joint initiatives, including youth initiatives and citizenship projects that promote active citizenship, social innovation, participation in democratic life and entrepreneurship, through peer learning and exchanges of experience;

IT support platforms allowing peer learning, knowledge-based youth work, virtual mobility and exchanges of good practice.

the implementation of the Union policy agenda on youth through the OMC;

implementation in the Programme countries of Union transparency and recognition tools, in particular the Youthpass, and support for Union-wide networks and European youth NGOs;

policy dialogue with relevant European stakeholders and structured dialogue with young people;

the European Youth Forum, resource centres for the development of youth work and the Eurodesk network.

to tackle cross-border threats to the integrity of sport, such as doping, match-fixing and violence, as well as all kinds of intolerance and discrimination;

to promote and support good governance in sport and dual careers of athletes;

to promote voluntary activities in sport, together with social inclusion, equal opportunities and awareness of the importance of health-enhancing physical activity through increased participation in, and equal access to, sport for all.

support for collaborative partnerships;

support for not-for-profit European sport events involving several Programme countries and contributing to the objectives set out in point (c) of Article 16(1);

support for strengthening the evidence base for policy-making;

dialogue with relevant European stakeholders.

77,5 % to education and training, from which the following minimum allocations shall be assigned:

10 % to youth;

3,5 % to the Student Loan Guarantee Facility;

1,9 % to Jean Monnet;

1,8 % to sport, of which no more than 10 % to the activity mentioned under point (b) of Article 17(1);

3,4 % as operating grants to national agencies; and

1,9 % to cover administrative expenditure.

the level of annual realised outputs; and

the level of annual payments realised.

the European added value referred to in Article 3;

the distribution of funds associated with the education, training and youth sectors, with a view to ensuring, by the end of the Programme, an allocation of funding which guarantees a sustainable systemic impact;

the use of the funds derived from the external instruments as referred to in Article 18(4) and their contribution to the respective objectives and principles of those instruments.

'Comenius', associated with school education;

'Erasmus', associated with all types of higher education within the Programme countries;

'Erasmus Mundus', associated with all types of higher education activities between the Programme countries and partner countries;

'Leonardo da Vinci', associated with vocational education and training;

'Grundtvig', associated with adult learning;

'Youth in Action', associated with non-formal and informal learning in the field of youth;

'Sports', associated with activities in the field of sport.

the Member States;

the acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates benefiting from a pre-accession strategy, in accordance with the general principles and general terms and conditions for the participation of those countries in Union programmes established in the respective framework agreements, Association Council decisions or similar agreements;

those EFTA countries that are party to the EEA Agreement, in accordance with the provisions of that agreement;

the Swiss Confederation, on the basis of a bilateral agreement to be concluded with that country;

those countries covered by the European neighbourhood policy which have concluded agreements with the Union providing for the possibility of their participation in the Union's programmes, subject to the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with the Union on the conditions of their participation in the Programme.

the relevant policies and programmes, in particular those relating to culture and the media, employment, research and innovation, industry and enterprise, cohesion and development policy, as well as enlargement policy and initiatives, instruments and strategies in the field of regional policy and external relations;

the other Union relevant sources of funding for education, training, youth and sport, in particular the European Social Fund and the other financial instruments relating to employment and social inclusion, the European Regional Development Fund and 'Horizon 2020' - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, as well as the financial instruments relating to justice and citizenship, health, external cooperation programmes and pre-accession assistance.

the Commission at Union level;

the national agencies at national level in the Programme countries.

have legal personality or be part of an entity having legal personality, and be governed by the law of the Member State concerned; a ministry may not be designated as a national agency;

have the adequate management capacity, staff and infrastructure to fulfil its tasks satisfactorily, ensuring efficient and effective management of the Programme and sound financial management of Union funds;

have the operational and legal means to apply the administrative, contractual and financial management rules laid down at Union level;

offer adequate financial guarantees, issued preferably by a public authority, corresponding to the level of Union funds it will be called upon to manage;

be designated for the duration of the Programme.

learning mobility of individuals, with the exception of mobility organised on the basis of joint or double/multiple degrees, large-scale volunteering projects and the Student Loan Guarantee Facility;

strategic partnerships within the action 'cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices';

the management of small-scale activities supporting the structured dialogue in the youth field within the action 'support for policy reform'.

stipulate the internal control standards for national agencies and the rules for the management of the Union funds for grant support by the national agencies;

include the national agency work programme comprising the management tasks of the national agency to which Union support is provided;

specify the reporting requirements for the national agency.

funds for grant support in the Member State concerned for the actions of the Programme the management of which is entrusted to the national agency;

a financial contribution in support of the Programme management tasks of the national agency. This shall be provided in the form of a flat-rate contribution to the operational costs of the national agency and shall be established on the basis of the amount of Union funds for grant support entrusted to the national agency.

have the necessary professional competence to carry out public sector audits;

ensure that its audits take account of internationally accepted audit standards;

not be in a position of conflict of interest with regard to the legal entity of which the national agency forms part. In particular, it shall be independent, in terms of its functions, of the legal entity of which the national agency forms part.

the volume of financing to be made available to students;

the most favourable possible terms offered to students, subject to compliance with the minimum standards of lending as set out in paragraph 2;

access to finance by all residents of Programme countries as referred to in Article 24(1);

fraud prevention measures; and

adherence to Directive 2008/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (1).

no collateral or parental guarantee shall be requested;

loans shall be granted on a non-discriminatory basis;

as part of the assessment process, the financial intermediary shall consider the student's risk of over-indebtedness, taking into account levels of accrued debt and any judicial decision relating to an unpaid debt; and

repayment shall be based upon a hybrid model combining 'mortgage-based' standardised payments with social safeguards, in particular:

the number of students in receipt of loans backed by the Student Loan Guarantee Facility, including data on their completion rates;

the volume of lending contracted by financial intermediaries;

the level of interest rates;

outstanding debt and default levels, including any measures taken by financial intermediaries against those who default on their loans;

fraud prevention measures taken by financial intermediaries;

the profile of students supported, including their socio-economic background, subject of study, country of origin and country of destination, in accordance with national data protection legislation;

geographical balance of uptake; and

geographical coverage of financial intermediaries.