ENGSO urges MEPs to keep youth and sport at the heart of Erasmus+ during CULT Stakeholders Dialogue
Brussels, 10 December 2025
Ahead of the adoption of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034, ENGSO Office Director Marie Denitton presented ENGSO’s perspective on the future of the Erasmus+ programme to the European Parliament’s CULT Committee during its Stakeholders Dialogue (on Establishing the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2028-2034), which took place on Wednesday, 10 December 2025 in Brussels.
In her address, she reminded Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) that grassroots sport is Europe’s largest civic movement, involving millions of volunteers and participants. It promotes health, equality, and social inclusion, and strengthens community resilience, fosters active citizenship, and connects people across borders and cultures.
She also highlighted that Erasmus+ has been one of the EU’s most successful programmes, enabling mobility, learning, and participation for millions of young people. Looking ahead to the adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034, she stressed that Erasmus+ must remain a cornerstone of Europe’s investment in people, particularly in youth and sport.
Marie Denitton particularly warned that merging the European Solidarity Corps into Erasmus+ will bring additional responsibilities without the necessary increase in resources. Despite the appearance of an increased budget, the proposal risks maintaining the status quo rather than achieving meaningful growth.
This is particularly concerning as the demand for Erasmus+ is higher than ever. Without significant investment, equal access for all young people cannot be guaranteed, and grassroots sport organisations, vital actors in inclusion and community building, will not receive the support they need.
In her presentation, Marie Denitton also cautioned that removing dedicated chapters for youth and sport, along with eliminating earmarked funding, will reduce visibility and weaken prioritisation. Small, volunteer-led clubs, which are the backbone of European sport, will struggle to compete for funding against larger organisations and consultancy firms.
She outlined ENGSO’s key recommendations for the next MFF, calling for a renewed commitment to youth and sport:
- Dedicated chapters and earmarked budgets for youth and sport, including at least 5% of the Erasmus+ budget allocated to sport, to ensure visibility and equitable access.
- A substantial real-term increase in Erasmus+ funding, well above inflation, to meet growing demand.
- Restoration of the Key Action architecture, with strong support for democratic engagement and non-formal learning.
- An approach that prioritises inclusion, health, volunteering and active citizenship.
As the next Multiannual Financial Framework continues to take shape, Marie Denitton concluded by urging MEPs to keep youth and sport at the heart of Erasmus+. She closed her remarks with a clear message: “Let us ensure that every young person and every grassroots sport club can continue to benefit from this success story.”