The Erasmus Days in October are an opportunity for the European Parliament to encourage young people to vote in the upcoming European elections next May. As many as 72% of those under 25 did not vote in the previous elections in 2014. EURACTIV.fr reports.
The Erasmus days, which first started in 2017 on the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, will once again this year take place over two days, with a series of events related to European mobility on 12 and 13 October.
Objectives for this year are greater, the agency wants to organise more than 2,000 events compared to 655 last year. Supported by schools, associations, companies and public authorities who submit proposals for events online, conferences, debates, concerts and photo exhibitions were organised as part of last year’s Erasmus Days.
Several are already on the programme for this year, such as an “international village” at the University of Strasbourg bringing together students returning from an Erasmus programme and professionals.
An information point on Europe will be opened in the neighbourhood of Auviers in Bordeaux, an initiative supported by the association Urban Vibrations School.
The Erasmus Days have also spread geographically: this year 19 countries are taking part, compared to 10 last year. Some events will also take place outside the borders of the EU particularly in Africa, in Dakar (Senegal) and Kampala (Uganda).
Inciting young people to vote
The Erasmus Days have also received the support of French president Emmanuel Macron, the European Commission and the European Parliament.
The Parliament has a strategic interest in the event, as it hopes to incite young people to go out and vote in European elections next year. In 2014, only 28% of 18-24-year-olds voted in the previous EU-wide elections.
The institution will lead a “campaign to encourage voting” until the ballot in May. The outline of the campaign remains unclear but “an emphasis will be put on young people”, said Isabelle Coustet, head of the EP’s information office in France.
