EAIE on the road: The Lifelong Learning Platform Week, Brussels
As 2026 comes into view, it's the perfect moment to pause, rewind, and revisit a standout moment from the end of 2025. One of EAIE's final stops of the year took us to Brussels for Lifelong Learning Platform Week (LLLWeek) — an event that sparked fresh perspectives worth carrying into the year ahead. Representing us was our Strategic Relationships Coordinator, Rita Dias.
The LLLWeek took place from 08–15 December, with the EAIE participating on the first day of the one-week- long programme. To add to the exciting atmosphere of our kick-off day, LLLP also hosted a reception, providing an excellent opportunity to network with other participants.
The event was attended by representatives from the European Commission, Brussels-based education organisations, civil society organisations, and professionals from across various education sectors. The diverse nature of the audience facilitated productive discussions on the day’s topic: investment, with an emphasis on the budget for the upcoming Erasmus+ Programme.
The budget proposal for the Erasmus+ Programme 2027– 2034
The first day of the LLLWeek revolved around the future of the EU’s flagship education initiative, the Erasmus+ Programme, and how the EU budget allocation will shape its development.
In addition, we had the opportunity to hear from Michael Teutsch, Acting Director for Youth, Education and Erasmus+, who highlighted that the European Commission has proposed a nominal 50% increase for the next programme. He also noted that the legislation presented by the Commission represents only the start of a lengthy negotiation process with the European Parliament and the Member States.
It was emphasised that education should not function in isolation. Although, while its connection to skills is important, it should not be viewed solely as a tool to serve other sectors.
New developments in the Erasmus+ Programme
Other key insights included the European Commission’s proposal, which highlighted that there will be a stronger emphasis on activities related to citizenship education and EU values, alongside efforts to make the programme more inclusive.
The panel was complemented by a fishbowl discussion with contributions from event participants. These discussions depicted that many high-quality KA2 projects are currently being rejected due to budget constraints and emphasised the need for the funding to align with the mobility targets outlined in the Commission’s "Europe on the Move" proposal.
I found it particularly interesting to hear the remarks highlighting that failing to invest in education is a poor long-term investment for the EU, underlining the importance of investing in the sector in the future Multiannual Financial Framework.
Ongoing efforts in Brussels: EAIE joins the LLLP Working Groups
As we strive towards working closer with our Belgian and European partners, the EAIE has recently joined two working groups of the Lifelong Learning Platform: the Internationalisation Working Group and the Erasmus+ Coalition. We look forward to further strengthening our relationships within the Brussels sphere and to contributing actively to these new important spaces.
The Lifelong Learning Platform Week, Brussels
The Lifelong Learning Platform Week, Brussels
The Lifelong Learning Platform Week, Brussels
