After the Commission officially celebrated '20 years of Erasmus' in December 2006, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) launched the Erasmus days around Europe on 18 January 2007.
On this occasion, the students urged the Commission to do more to improve the recognition of studies abroad, pointing to the fact that in 2006 only half of the Erasmus students received full recognition for their studies in their home countries. They also called on the Commission to provide better financial support for students, in particular for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those from eastern and central Europe.
Opening the event, Commission Vice President Margot Wallström encouraged Erasmus students to act as 'the ambassadors of Europe'. "You who have benefited from Europe can do something for Europe in return, telling your friends and colleagues about the EU's achievements and sharing your enthusiasm for what it means to be a European," she said.
Education Commissioner Jan Figel previously highlighted the leading role of the Erasmus programme as a driver for modernising Europe's higher-education systems.
Erasmus is the Commission's higher education programme. It aims to encourage transnational co-operation between universities and this way reinforce the European dimension of higher education, boost student mobility and improve the academic recognition of studies and qualifications acquired throughout the EU.
