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UK confirms return to EU's Erasmus+ student scheme in January

Summarised from 8 outlets · Updated 8 Nov, 18:38 · Archive

The UK will officially rejoin the European Union's Erasmus+ scheme in January, enabling students and young people to study, train and gain work experience across the EU.

The UK will officially rejoin the Erasmus+ scheme in January, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has announced. The scheme allows students and young people to study, train and gain work experience across the European Union. Britain departed the programme in 2020 under Boris Johnson's Brexit agreement, after the then-prime minister claimed it failed to deliver value for money. The scheme was replaced by the Turing Scheme, which has now ended following the Government's announcement of a new agreement on Erasmus+.

Up to £400 million will be made available via the British Council to support schools, youth groups and sports teams. The Government reported securing a 30 per cent reduction on participation fees for 2027, which it says will save taxpayers roughly £240 million. More than £30 million has been designated for youth initiatives, specifically targeting areas with historically lower participation levels, such as the North East, East Midlands and Yorkshire. Under the arrangements, young people can participate in short exchanges lasting several weeks, while 18-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds could be eligible for free rail travel across EU nations.

Nandy said the initiative's return after a six-year absence would help rebuild closer ties with European neighbours. She stated: 'After six years away, the UK rejoining the Erasmus+ programme is a clear symbol of our ambition and intent. This time round, we want Erasmus+ to provide every young person, from all backgrounds and all regions, the opportunity to take part and have the enriching, life-altering experience of international exchange.'

The announcement triggered significant political controversy. On Remembrance Sunday, Nandy's department released a statement saying that 'as we mark Remembrance Sunday, Erasmus+ will give a new generation the chance to build connections across Europe'. The department also drew comparisons between the scheme and wartime sacrifice, stating that through Erasmus+ the government would honour veterans 'by building the best opportunities for the next generation through closeness and collaboration with our allies'.

Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused Nandy of politicising Remembrance Sunday and making an 'EU membership pitch' on a day meant for national commemoration. He said: 'Remembrance Sunday is a day for the nation to stand together in silence and honour those who gave everything for our country. It is not a day for a Labour minister to try to make an EU membership pitch. Our veterans did not fight for a student exchange scheme.' He called the announcement 'tone deaf and frankly shameful' and urged Nandy to withdraw her remarks and apologise.

Nandy firmly rejected the criticism. She told Sky News: 'I strongly, strongly disagree and it's Remembrance Sunday. It's not a time for politicking. And I'm actually kind of quite horrified that the chairman of the Conservative Party has chosen to do that.' She argued that her critics were the ones politicising the commemoration. When challenged by LBC's Lewis Goodall that soldiers 'didn't die for a student exchange programme', Nandy responded: 'I don't accept that at all. I think that's really crass. I think that is a really crass way to treat the sacrifice of an entire generation.'

Nandy also stressed that the scheme reflected broader government ambitions for closer ties with Europe. She told the BBC: 'As we remember the immense courage of those who served our country, we honour them by building the best opportunities for the next generation through closeness and collaboration with our allies.' She added that 'a whole generation of young people growing up will never get the chance to meet a World War II veteran' but that generation 'is remembered across the whole of Europe because they fought alongside many of our European allies'.

The Guardian reports that Nandy has expressed caution about 'circular arguments' about whether the UK should rejoin the EU itself, appearing to suggest she is not in favour of full rejoining. However, she said the prime minister should pursue closer ties to fulfil promises made at the time of the referendum. She told the BBC: 'I do not believe that anybody wants to repeat circular arguments about in or out, leave or remain.'

UK confirms return to EU's Erasmus+ student scheme in January
Image: Guardian World

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How it is being reported

In this story: Lisa Nandy · Kevin Hollinrake · Boris Johnson · Andy Burnham · United Kingdom · European Union · British Council · Erasmus+

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