The European Commission organised the annual Erasmus+ National Agencies’ event from 27–29 January 2026, in Brussels. The three-day event was held at the Thon Hotel bringing together directors and staff from Erasmus+ National Agencies across Europe to discuss future of Erasmus+ programme. The agenda included both directors, horizontal and field specific sessions addressing topics such as accreditation systems, centralised actions, data analysis, and inclusion.
As part of the inclusion focus, the SALTO Inclusion and Diversity in Education and Training (SALTO ID ET) and the SALTO Inclusion and Diversity Youth (SALTO ID YOU) co-facilitated dedicated sessions. On 27 January, Dora Lukač, acting Head of SALTO ID ET, and Pieter-Jan De Graeve, team coordinator of the SALTO ID YOU, led a session for approximately 100 National Agency directors, and on 28 January, they co-facilitated a similar session for around 60 NA staff members.
During these sessions, participants examined both existing measures and tools that could be improved, alongside new ideas aimed at increasing opportunities for persons with fewer opportunities. The discussions contributed to shaping potential updates to current measures and the development of new ID initiatives in Erasmus+ post-2027. Key topics addressed included the Erasmus+ ID Strategy, accessibility and user-friendliness of the programme, specific programme actions such as accreditations and small-scale partnerships, financial support mechanisms, funding rules and unit costs, as well as NA-level outreach and support, and open topics for new proposals.
Each session followed a clear structure, beginning with a 5-minute framing and introduction, followed by a 25-minute reality check on how inclusive current practices are and what improvements can be made. Then, participants engaged in a 40-minute forward-looking discussion to envision the future of inclusion within Erasmus+. The session concluded with a 20-minute overview summarising key points, and the proposals and insights shared by participants will be carefully analysed and considered in the ongoing preparation and development of future programme measures.