Coimbra Group warns against member states’ budget reductions for Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe

The Coimbra Group of universities has expressed its concerns about a 4% cut in funding proposed by Cyprus presidency for the Horizon Europe research programme and the Erasmus+ mobility scheme compared to the Commission's proposal.

"We call on EU heads of state and government to take a clear and strategic decision: to safeguard and strengthen investment in education, research and innovation as core pillars of Europe’s resilience and prosperity... It is a choice about Europe’s place in the world, its capacity to withstand crises and its ambition to lead," the association of 42 multidisciplinary European universities said on 23/06/2026.

The group said that Erasmus+ was a cornerstone of European cohesion and democratic resilience and warned that underinvestment would weaken its impact at a time of growing challenges to democracy. It also said that strong investment in Horizon Europe and the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) is essential to Europe’s long-term resilience, competitiveness and strategic autonomy.

On 11/06/2026, Cyprus, which holds the presidency of the EU's Council of…