Higher education: co-operation with third countries, Erasmus Mundus programme 2004-2008

The Commission accepts six amendments that contribute to clarifying and reinforcing certain aspects of the text; These concern: - adding a reference clarifying that higher professional training is part of higher education; - introducing a new recital referring to the renewal of the existing programmes and the promotion of access to Erasmus Mundus for European students; - reinforcing the notion of Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses being selected on the basis of course quality and quality of the hosting arrangements; - reinforcing references to the learning and use of two languages (without prejudice to the language of instruction) already covered in the annex. The Commission also accepts the amendment which proposes a budget of EUR 230 million for the programme; this amount is adequate for a flagship programme like Erasmus Mundus and is in line with the Commission's financial programming for the enlarged European Union.�