The Federal Council extends the interim solution for Erasmus+ until the end of 2017

Bern, 07.09.2016 - The Federal Council has extended the 2014–2016 interim solution for Swiss participation in individual projects of the European mobility programme Erasmus+ by one year, thus providing interested Swiss nationals the opportunity to participate in European mobility and cooperation projects until the end of 2017.

The Federal Council has extended the interim solution so that Swiss people will still be able to take part indirectly in Erasmus+, the European Union’s programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport. This will allow Swiss students, apprentices and education professionals at all education levels to continue to benefit from European mobility activities, and enable Swiss educational institutions to continue to take part in cooperation projects with European partners.

At the same time, the Federal Council can take account of developments in relations between Switzerland and the EU up to 2017 in its long-term plans for promoting international mobility from 2018 onwards. 

The information required for participation in the 2017 programmes will be provided in good time before the start of the application process. From 1 January 2017, the Swiss Foundation for the Promotion of Exchange and Mobility (SFAM) will be responsible for implementing the national and international exchange and mobility programmes on behalf of the Confederation and the cantons. The previously mandated ch Foundation for Federal Cooperation will continue its ongoing work until the end of 2016.

The 20142016 interim solution for Erasmus+ became necessary after negotiations on Swiss participation in Erasmus+ were suspended in response to the adoption by Swiss voters of the the popular initiative “Against Mass Immigration”, resulting in Switzerland being relegated to third-country status on 26 February 2014.


Address for enquiries

Jérôme Hügli, SERI Project Manager,
International Cooperation in Education and Professional Qualifications,
Tel. +41 58 465 86 73


Publisher

The Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html

Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
http://www.wbf.admin.ch

https://www.admin.ch/content/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases/media-releases-federal-council.msg-id-63673.html