Reinforcing the mobility of higher education students and teachers - celebrating
ERASMUS and launching the next phase of the programme 

During the last two decades, the international mobility of higher education students has been one of the most important foundations for the construction of Europe by its citizens. The celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Erasmus Programme (1987-2007) highlights and acknowledges the extraordinary contribution provided by higher education institutions, teachers, staff, and students in particular, to the European construction process.

The Portuguese Presidency is organising in coooperation with the European Commission, the closing ceremony of the 20th anniversary of the ERASMUS programme.

On this occasion, the Presidency is keen to promote the debate on the new challenges faced by the Erasmus programme, in particular the importance of widening the social base for the mobility of students in Europe. To further build upon the success of the ERASMUS programme will require active social policies to enable lower income students to access the opportunities for international mobility. To achieve such an objective it is necessary to engage national policies with European Community objectives and to forge partnerships with both the public and private sector in the participating countries. The Presidency aims to stimulate this combination of efforts against the background of the first 20 years of success of the Erasmus programme.