The UK has rejoined an EU programme as the PM pushes for closer ties
Andy Burnham is pushing for closer ties with the EU (Image: Getty)
Britain is set to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus plus student exchange scheme from the start of January. Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer said applications would open next month for young people who will be able to study, train or get work experience in the bloc.
It comes as Andy Burnham is looking at options for a new relationship with Brussels including potentially returning to the Brussels club. Work on the UK joining the Erasmus programme was announced as part of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s post-Brexit reset deal with Brussels in 2025.
Britain left the scheme under Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal in 2020, with the then-prime minister arguing it did not offer value for money.
It was replaced by the Turing Scheme, which was ended when the Government announced the new deal over Erasmus plus.
In the Commons today, Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said young people had been “deprived of opportunity” since Brexit.
She asked: “What work is being done with EU counterparts to improve ties with the EU so it benefits our economy and our young people?”
Mr Falconer replied: “I would like to inform the House that the UK will reassociate with Erasmus plus from January 1 2027. Applications open this November.
“They are not simply for undergraduate university students. They are for educational institutions of all kinds.”
He urged “members right across the House to work with the British Council, get their institutions engaged”.
“That is one of the concrete ways we will be helping young people through closer relationship.”