Since its first created in 1987, the Erasmus Programme has become one of the most successful and iconic programmes of the European Union.
Over the last 30 years, the European Union's programmes in the fields of education, training and youth – now gathered in Erasmus+ – have not only achieved but also surpassed their objectives of promoting mobility, developing key skills and strengthening common European values and identity; they have given 9 million people a chance to study, train, volunteer or gain professional experience abroad. Young people who took part in these programmes are not only more employable, but are also more open to diversity and feel closer to European ideals. Let’s now build the future of this programme post-2020 together.
The Erasmus + program now includes 33 countries, and Croatia joined the Erasmus program before joining the European Union in 2009. The Central European Union celebration took place on 13 June 2017 in Strasbourg. There was a debate on the future of the Erasmus + program after 2020, which brought together a wide circle of participants.
Paralympic and World Recorder in Swimming, Mihovil Španja from Dubrovnik, as the only representative of the Republic of Croatia and a former University student in Dubrovnik, received a high degree of recognition from the European Parliament for participation and a special contribution to the development of the Erasmus program as part of the 30th anniversary of the Erasmus program in the European Union.