Erasmus+ is open to many individuals and organisations, although eligibility varies from one action to another and from one country to another.

Sometimes organisations  specify in their calls from which countries they would like to have participants from. However it also sometimes happens, when there is no specific list of the participating countries  but given broader variety named as Erasmus+ Youth in Action Programme countries. Which countries get into the list?

Erasmus+ Youth in Action Programme countries

Essentially the list include both EU Countries and some Non-EU countries.

Erasmus+ Youth in Action Programme countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey.

  • Member States of the European Union: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden
  • Non EU Programme Countries: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein; and potential candidates: North Macedonia, Republic of Türkiye and Republic of Serbia;

The contribution which an organized and living Europe can bring to civilization is indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations.”— Robert Schuman,
one of the architects of the European Union

How it all started from

In 1957, the Treaty of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC), or ‘Common Market’. The six founding countries were France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

photo credit : Julian Lozano

At that point, the six countries involved were trying to establish better trade among themselves and were attempting to establish a common market.

With the collapse of communism across central and eastern Europe, Europeans become closer neighbours. In 1993 the Single Market completed with the ‘four freedoms’ of: movement of goods, services, people and money.

The European Parliament, Council of the Union, European Commission, Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors are the main ruling parties of the Union, and they oversee over 500 million citizens who live inside the EU’s borders.

The Court of Justice essentially interprets laws and regulations of the European Union. member country governments choose 28 judges . The decisions they come to are final, and everyone from individual citizens to the governments of EU members should abide them.

 

No Borders to Pass

European Passport Control - photo credit : Daniel Schludi

European Passport Control – photo credit : Daniel Schludi

With a valid passport, EU citizens are entitled to exercise the right of free movement (meaning they do not need a visa and don’t need a residence permit for settling) in the European Economic Area.

EU countries also have something else in common: their passports. Most passports issued by EU member states have the common recommended layout: a red passport with “European Union” written at the top accompanied by the name of the issuing member state.

So Many Languages

There are 24 official languages in the European Union, including Spanish, Polish, Maltese, Greek, Danish, Croatian and English, just to name a few.

What’s more is that every piece of legislation and any other important document should be translated into every single language. Unemployed translators: take note! Not entirely surprisingly, 51% of the EU’s members understand English, regardless of whether or not it’s their mother tongue.

Every time new members have joined the EU, they have added to the number of official languages.

Even after the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU, English remains one of the official languages of Ireland and Malta.

What is more – The EU supports to learn languages enabling every EU citizen to communicate in 2 languages other than their mother tongue.

The best way to achieve this would be to introduce children to 2 foreign languages from an early age. Other steps are being taken to help EU countries improve their educational programmes, to ensure school-leavers have better language skills.

Peace in the Union

Pax Europaea – is the period of relative peace experienced by Europe in the period following World War II.

Even though a number of armed conflicts occurred on the European peninsula after World War II, none of them have been between members of the European Union. Most of these conflicts have taken place in the former Yugoslavia and Soviet Union.

Wish for peace - Nashville Walls

Wish for peace – Nashville Walls – Photo credit : Ben Wilkins

The European Union has won the Nobel Peace Prize. A large governmental body collectively won the Peace Prize in 2012 based on its contributions towards peace and reconciliation.

Health Care

European Union offers European Health Insurance  to all residents of the EU.

The idea is that all citizens, no matter what participating European country they are in, have free card that gives access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the  EU countries

EU Health Policy

EU Health Policy – Photo credit : Natasha Spencer

Withdrawal from EU

Any Member State may decide to leave the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements.
A Member State which decides to withdraw shall notify the European Council of its intention.

The British exit from the the EU is not the first time a country decided to leave the Union. French Algeria had joined the European Communities as part of the French Republic. Upon independence in 1962, Algeria left France and thus left the European Communities. In 1979, a referendum was held in Greenland, with the majority in favor of leaving. The country officially left in 1985, six whole years after the referendum.

Traveling around the world

Traveling around the world – Photo credit: Paula May

However it is possible for a former member state to re-enter in the EU. Just  it would be subject to the same conditions as any other applicant country and need to negotiate a Treaty of Accession, ratified by every Member State.

Love to learn and grow your mindset

European Union takes great care about education and implements many programmes to help youth open their mindset.

Language learning

Language learning – Photo credit : Tim Mossholder

One of them is Erasmus + which includes lots of interesting project for youth and what is crucial you can participate in it for free. Yes, you read it correctly, they are funded by European commission and gives you chance to travel abroad and open your horizons.

How to participate:

If you are ready to come out of your comfort zone and take part in one of the opportunities you can visit our web page Abroadship.org which provides wide range of programmes including : Youth ExchangesSeminarsTraining courses, Internships and many more..

You can subscribe to our mailing list or like us on Facebook and receive the latest open-calls.

All the lists

Erasmus+ Youth in Action Programme countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey.

  • Member States of the European Union: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden
  • Non EU Programme Countries: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein; and potential candidates: North Macedonia, Republic of Türkiye and Republic of Serbia;

Erasmus+ Partner Countries Neighbouring the EU:

Albania; Algeria; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Egypt; Georgia; Israel; Jordan; Kosovo *UN Resolution; Lebanon Libya; Moldova; Montenegro; Morocco; Palestine; Russian Federation; Syria; Tunisia; Ukraine

Southern Mediterranean countries: Algeria; Egypt; Israel; Jordan; Lebanon; Libya; Morocco; Palestine; Syria; Tunisia