Marta Andreasen, on behalf of the EFD Group. – Mr President, Erasmus started 25 years ago, and three million people have taken part. During the period 2007-2013 the EU has paid out grants worth EUR 3 billion on Erasmus. However, the economy has shrunk and youth unemployment has grown massively to 11.7 %. Furthermore, the grant gives an average EUR 300 per month, which is insufficient to cover the basic costs of living. If we add travel costs to this we can estimate that a family needs to pay at least EUR 5 000 per year on top of the grant to cover the total cost of one of its members doing Erasmus.

How many families can afford this in these times of crisis? Considering the lack of impact on employment and economic growth that the Erasmus programme has had over the last decade, and given that it can only be afforded by those that are well off, we should scrap it. There are many other priorities that need more urgent attention. Those who find it indispensable to have this development should pay out of their own pocket instead of imposing the burden on the taxpayer.