February 5th, 2019 marks the day on which Serbia is actively entering the Erasmus Plus Programme as more than just a partner country. On that day Commissioner Navracsics signed the important agreement with the country’s Minister for Education, Science and Technological Development, mister Mladen Sarcevic.
Over the past two years, Serbia has been working towards this status and this agreement. There have been many assessment procedures to ensure that the country was fully ready to get a much more active part in the European Frameworks and become the 34th country to join the Erasmus Plus Programme Countries in Europe.
Over the past few years, Serbia has been taking part in this worldwide programme in multiple different projects. The country has gone through a lot of very tough projects and the Serbian organizations have gained a lot of experience in Erasmus Plus as a partner country. A characteristic example is a fact that almost 7000 students from Serbia have experienced a learning period, abroad, and close to 4300 Europeans have visited Serbia under several Erasmus Plus projects, since 2014.
What will Serbia gain as a Partner Country?
As a Programme country and not just a Partner country, Serbia will now be able to get involved in a much larger variety of different project under the Erasmus Plus framework, with a lot more activities. The country can now join projects focusing on sports vocational education and training (VET) and school and adult education. This Agreement will help connect Serbia and other EU countries.
This is an opportunity to create more space for people-to-people contacts. It will also build mutual understanding which will promote cooperation between the countries. Most importantly, Serbia will now be able to reach out to other partners outside of the European Area to add them to international projects.
The EU is aiming for much better cooperation with the countries in the Western Balkans. Serbia’s addition to the Erasmus Plus Programme countries takes this goal one step further. This Agreement ensures Serbia’s participation in the Erasmus Plus programme from now on and it is also a momentum of the EU’s relationship with the region.
You can watch the Signature Ceremony video here
