Protestant schools in France excluded from Erasmus+
In a written question to the European Commission, Dutch MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen raised concerns over France’s exclusion of private schools—including Protestant and Montessori institutions—from the EU’s Erasmus+ student mobility programme. He questioned how this policy aligns with the programme’s stated commitment to inclusivity for both public and private educational institutions. In its response on 10 April, the European Commission reaffirmed that Erasmus+ is designed to be inclusive. However, it ultimately placed responsibility on national authorities, stating that France is within its rights to define eligibility criteria for participation.
In his question to the Commission, MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen also pointed out that excluding French private schools (such as Protestant and Montessori schools) from the Erasmus+ Learning Mobility of Individuals Programme puts French pupils at a disadvantage compared to their peers in other EU countries.
In its response, the Commission reaffirmed that Erasmus+ is designed to include all pupils, regardless of whether they attend a public or private school. However, it also stated that each member state, including France, has the authority to define which schools qualify based on national education laws. Currently, the French government only permits schools with formal state contracts to participate in the programme, which automatically excludes many faith-based and Montessori schools.
While the Commission did not challenge France’s approach, it pointed out that this information is publicly available and compliant with EU treaties, which protect national control over education. Consequently, despite EU support for equal access, thousands of students in Christian and independent schools in France remain excluded from the Erasmus+ Learning Mobility of Individuals Programme. For now, the legal framework gives France the final say, leaving little hope of immediate policy change unless the French government reconsiders its criteria.
Source: Politique Papers, Europarl.
Picture: freepik