The European Union plans to include students from Mediterranean countries in the Erasmus exchange programme, it was announced on Thursday.

The inclusion of students from non-EU African and Middle Eastern countries is part of the Pact for the Mediterranean, Politico reports. The pact also includes a proposal to double the EU’s budget for the region to €42 billion.

The countries to which Erasmus will be extended are Egypt, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia.

EU foreign policy chief Kaya Callas told reporters that the pact includes more than 100 projects ranging from support for 5G networks to youth-focused projects and rail, road, and sea links with undersea cables.

For her part, EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, said the agreement aims to “connect young people” and expand the Erasmus Plus and Horizon Europe programmes.

On migration, Souica described it as “the biggest common challenge” and “a common opportunity” for both sides.