Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/216204
22 Opinion maltatoday, SUNDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2013 2013 Roberta Metsola A few months in 2002 I was lucky enough to be among the first Maltese people to, even before Malta joined the EU, have had the opportunity to spend some time studying in another EU member state thanks to the Erasmus student mobility programme. Back in 2002, I spent a semester in Rennes, France as part of my law course. It changed my perspective on life, law and the European Union. I realised then, more than ever before, just how absolutely crucial it was for Malta to become part of the EU and for more of my counterparts to have the same opportunities as I did. To be able to immerse yourself in another culture, meet new people, share experiences and understand what richness in diversity is all about, is something that everyone should experience. It is what Europe is all about. A semester abroad, particularly for Malta's students, opens your eyes and your mind. You are exposed to people and cultures that you would previously only read about. Since 'my time', more than 1,000 Maltese students have joined millions of European students who have had the chance to live and study abroad. It has boosted employability and has enhanced the European ideal across the continent. Those months abroad certainly helped prepare me for when I took over Simon Busutill's mantle as a Member of the European Parliament for Malta. Since then, I have always supported the strenghtening of student and youth mobility in Europe. In my meetings with student and youth representatives, this is the one single issue that crops up most often. It is understandable. It is one of the most tangible benefits of EU A semester abroad, particularly for Malta's students, opens your eyes and your mind. You are exposed to people and cultures that you would previously only read about membership for students, youth and their parents. So it was with a great sense of pride that this week, in the European Parlaiment plenary session in Strasbourg, we approved a new €15 billion Erasmus+ mobility programme that will take the programme through the next seven years. It is an historic achievement that will extend the programme to over 4 million young people, giving them a grant while allowing them to study, train, work or volunteer in another member state. It will increase spending by some 40% on current levels and will combine a number of familiar schemes such as Leonardo, Cominus and Youth in Action under one umbrella programme making it easier for applicants to understand and reducing some of the bureaucracy. Erasmus+ is, of course, more than just about experiencing other cultures, languages and lifestyles. It is also about giving an added value to those experiences by increasing employability and enhancing the job prospects of those who spend some time abroad. Against a backdrop of rising youth unemployment in many EU countries, education is the answer. Being mobile boosts your CV and makes finding a job easier. The benefits continue later in life, statistics show that people who have spent time abroad in their youth tend to travel more across Europe, even in terms of jobs. Campaigning for a 'Yes' vote in Malta's EU accession referendum, more than a decade ago, I remember that student and youth mobility was one of the main attractions of EU membership for my generation, the same is true for those who are still teenagers now. We have made it easier than ever to study, train, work or volunteer abroad and I know that there is a generation of young people waiting eagerly for their turn once the new programme starts in January of next year. Roberta Metsola is a Member of the European Parliament Download the MaltaToday App now