Brussels delays tuition fee demand to unblock UK-EU summit

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 17:33 · Archive

The European Commission is proposing to postpone negotiations on tuition fees for EU students in UK universities beyond next month's leaders' summit.

The European Commission has proposed postponing negotiations on tuition fees for EU students studying at British universities beyond next month's UK-EU leaders' summit on 20 November. This would allow other elements of Britain's 'reset' with the bloc to be agreed, including deals on agri-food trade, emissions trading, and a youth experience scheme.

EU member states have been pushing for European students to pay domestic rather than international tuition rates, as they did before Brexit. However, the postponement proposal would ask the UK to commit to finalising a tuition fee agreement within six months. Both outlets report that France and Germany have signalled preparedness to delay this demand as a goodwill gesture.

Negotiations on a sanitary and phytosanitary deal to align UK and EU agri-food standards are close to completion, according to Politico Europe's sources. The deal would include temporary arrangements for gene-edited plants and novel foods. Both sides are also considering a joint summit statement on economic security amid UK concerns about EU proposals.

Brussels delays tuition fee demand to unblock UK-EU summit — Image: The i Paper

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How it is being reported

Major obstacle removed for UK to clinch Brexit deal within weeksEU officials say they don't want to 'blow up the summit' over unresolved issue of university tuition feesThe i Paper · 22 Oct, 17:14
Brussels proposes delaying tuition fee demand till after UK-EU summitA postponement would clear the way for a deal to be struck on other key elements of Britain’s “reset” with the bloc.Politico Europe · 22 Oct, 12:48

In this story: European Commission · United Kingdom · European Union · France · Germany

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