Welcome back to Erasmus, Britain!

The EPP Group welcomes the agreement between the European Commission and the United Kingdom on the UK’s association with the Erasmus+ programme from 2027. This marks an important step in restoring and strengthening Europe’s most popular and successful student exchange scheme. The renewed participation will allow students in the UK to once again spend up to a year studying in Europe as part of their degree programmes without paying additional tuition fees. European students will likewise be able to study in the UK, strengthening academic mobility and educational cooperation across Europe.

“This is very good news ahead of Christmas. After Brexit, numerous efforts were made to maintain the United Kingdom’s participation in Erasmus+. Unfortunately, these efforts were followed by an interruption, which was particularly painful for the younger generation,” said Bogdan Zdrojewski MEP, the EPP Group’s negotiator on the Erasmus programme.

The UK’s absence from Erasmus+ after Brexit was a bitter loss. From 2027, young people from all backgrounds on both sides will once again be able to benefit from Erasmus+, including students, apprentices, and staff in education, youth, and sport. The programme offers opportunities to study abroad as well as work placements in leading European companies.

“Today, both sides welcome with satisfaction and delight the opportunity to return to an open, education-focused Europe with the participation of the United Kingdom. This development sends a very important signal at an extremely difficult time, demonstrating that countries across the continent recognise cooperation in education as a special value,” added Zdrojewski.