BRUSSELS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission has launched the fourth phase of the Tempus program, which supports the modernization of higher education in neighboring countries, said the commission on Thursday.

    With Tempus, the European Commission is creating an area of cooperation in the field of higher education between the European Union (EU) and its neighbors.

    Since 1990, Tempus has funded 6,500 projects, involving 2,000 universities from the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.