By Martha Moss - 6th July 2011
Merging the programmes could mean that some of the content is lost
Doris Pack, the chair of parliament's culture and education committee
The bottom line isn't really what we are going to call it - what matters is that the EU is putting its money where its mouth is
Dennis Abbott, the spokesman for European education, culture and youth commissioner Androulla Vassiliou
The European commission has defended plans to bring all of its education and career mobility programmes under the Erasmus brand name.
MEPs, education organisations and the European commission are currently discussing proposals to scrap the Leonardo da Vinci, Comenius and Grundtvig names, which come under the EU's lifelong learning programme and provide grants for study and training abroad.
The commission is considering brining all the programmes under the Erasmus banner, saying the move would help increase visibility and raise awareness of the financial support available for people wanting to study or work in another country.
However, Doris Pack, the chair of parliament's culture and education committee, warned that "merging the programmes could mean that some of the content is lost".
"If the existing names are disappearing we are starting from nowhere," she told TheParliament.com.
The EPP deputy also welcomed calls to allocate €15.2bn to education and training in the next EU budget, up 70 per cent from the current €8.8bn figure.
"I can only be happy with this but the problem is I don't know what it [the draft budget] contains," she said, welcoming efforts to meet the 2020 objectives on employment and economic growth.
She added, "Before I fully applaud it, I want to know what the commission will give to different people."
Dennis Abbott, the spokesman for European education, culture and youth commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, said the money could double the 400,000 people who receive EU support for study, training or volunteering in different member states.
"People are attached to names but what matters is that we give young people the opportunity to receive grants," he told this website. "It is the same focus, and we will still fund the same objectives, but with more efficiency and more synergies."
He added, "The bottom line isn't really what we are going to call it - what matters is that the EU is putting its money where its mouth is. "For years, the EU has been saying that we have to invest in education and mobility to equip young people with the skills they need.
"Given the high levels of youth unemployment, it's our duty to help people get a job. We want to help equip young people with the skills they need to get a job."
