Member state ministers meeting at the Council for Education, Youth, Culture and Sport meeting between 10 and 11 May agreed on a partial general approach on the proposal for a regulation establishing the "Erasmus for All" programme for the period 2014-2020. The new programme will make special emphasis in strengthening education and training as essential part of the Europe 2020 strategy.

The agreement reached within the Council on a partial general approach constitutes a political mandate for future Presidencies to engage in informal negotiations with the European Parliament during the second half of 2012 with a view to reaching overall agreement on the proposal for the Erasmus for All Programme early in 2013. According to the agreement, the new programme will be focused on three types of actions, which will include learning mobility, cooperation for innovation and good practices, and support for policy reform.

The main changes introduced to the Commission's proposal for a regulation on the Erasmus for All Programme include the call for greater visibility for the youth field with a separate youth chapter with a separate budget for youth. On the Commission view the distinction between the youth field and the other parts of the programme is artificial, and should not lead to the creation of a separate youth chapter and budget.

Regarding the programme management, the Council rejected the Commission's proposal for a single coordinating body as National Agency in each Member State. However, most member states and the Commission stressed the need of a consistent implementation, as well as improved coordination at national level for achieving cost-efficiency.

The partial general approach includes a special provision to ensure access to the Programme for people with special needs or with fewer opportunities. Furthermore, member sates agreed to support academic institutions by keeping the six academic institutions active in the field of European integration studies which currently receive funding from the Lifelong Learning. In order to minimise imbalances between member states, the partial general approach envisages minimum allocations for each of the different education and training sectors.