Over €7 million from the EU’s Erasmusplus programme were recently presented to 79 beneficiaries through the European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA).

The grants will be used to start new projects in five sectors – schools, VET, adult education, higher education and the youth sector. A total of €3.7 million will be used to promote the mobility of the project participants, whereas €3.2m in grants will go towards projects which predominantly focus on the sharing of good practices and innovation. A further €65,000 will go towards policy reform.

During the ceremony held to present the grants to the beneficiaries, Aaron Farrugia, Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds and Social Dialogue announced that in October a final call will be issued for applications in the youth sector, including youth exchanges and the first call under the new initiative launched by the European Commission, the European Solidarity Corps, whereby young people can apply to conduct a voluntary experience abroad. Dr Farrugia encouraged youth organisations and NGOs to contact MEUSAC in order to seek its support to submit proposals.

At the same event, Clifton Grima, Parliamentary Secretary for Youths, Sports and Voluntary Organisation said that in 2018 under the youth sector, to date 51 projects have been granted funds. He encouraged organisations that have volunteering projects to provide opportunities for young people to participate in projects under the European Solidarity Corps.

Joseph Schembri, EUPA CEO and national coordinator of the Erasmusplus programme, said this year the agency had received 186 applications. He added that the Erasmusplus budget allocated to Malta this year was the biggest ever and the European Commission will double the Erasmusplus budget after 2020.