30th Anniversary of Erasmus+ Programme was celebrated in Istanbul

2017 marks the 30th anniversary of Erasmus+, the EU's flagship programme for education, training, youth and sport. 

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Erasmus+ Programme, the National Agency, affiliated with the Ministry for EU Affairs, has organised the "Erasmus+ Across the Bosphorus" event in Istanbul. Opening speeches of the event were delivered by our Undersecretary Ambassador Selim Yenel, Ambassador Christian Berger, the Head of the EU Delegation, and Ms. Martine Reicherts, the European Commission’s Director-General for Education and Culture.

Director-General Reicherts underlined that Erasmus+ programme helps bringing people together, reinforcing crossborder friendship and raising a peace generation and advised the youth to be a part of the change to create a better world and to learn new languages and new cultures.

In his speech, our Undersecretary Ambassador Selim Yenel stated that Erasmus students play an important role in promoting Türkiye in Europe as well as in introducing the European cultures in Türkiye, calling them “Türkiye’s ambassadors”.

Following the opening speeches and the award ceremony for the “Erasmus+ Through My Lens” Photography Contest, a panel discussion with former Erasmus+ beneficiaries were held. Ahmet Katıksız, a youth worker; actor Şükrü Özyıldız; Natalia Piotrowska, the third Secretary of the Embassy of Poland; Mehmet Kahramanoğulları, a teacher with visual impairment and Ahsen Bayramoğlu, a volunteer of the Erasmus student network, shared their Erasmus experiences with the participants.

Being one of the most successful EU Programmes, Erasmus+ programme strengthens the links between different cultures and generations. Since its launch in 1987 — with the participation of 11 countries and 3,200 students — Erasmus+ programme has given 9 million people the chance to study, train, volunteer or gain professional experience abroad.

Türkiye has been one of the participating countries participating in the programme since 2004. Thanks to Erasmus+, 427.000 Turkish citizens have had the chance of discovering new cultures as well as introducing their own while gaining new skills and experiences. Türkiye has the highest number of applicants among all programme countries with 10.000 project applications annually.