‘Big step forward,’ EU chiefs say as they welcome UK’s decision to rejoin Erasmus
EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, who was directly involved in the talks, hailed the UK’s move to rejoin Erasmus as a “big step forward” stressing it will “boost people-to-people ties” between the EU and the UK.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed the decision, saying it will “open the door to new shared experiences and lasting friendships”.
Key events
The last available Erasmus+ country report for the UK based on 2020 data shows that University of Glasgow, University of Bristol, and University of Edinburgh were the three top UK universities sending students abroad, with most people coming into the UK from Spain, France and Germany.
Just over 16,000 European students came into the UK as part of from the scheme in 2019/2020, with almost 6,000 trainees on top of that figure. 9,800 UK students and 6,500 trainees went in the other direction, data show.
We are also getting first reactions from members of the European Parliament.
Sandro Gozi, an Italian politician elected to European Parliament from France, welcomed the agreement on the UK rejoining Erasmus+, saying it was “excellent news”.
“A concrete step to rebuild people-to-people ties,” he said, congratulating the EU and UK negotiators.
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme
Richard Adams
Education editor
Young people across the UK will be able to study or gain work experience through the EU’s Erasmus scheme for the first time since Brexit, after the government announced an agreement to rejoin at a cost of £570m.
The scheme officially known as Erasmus+ will be reopened to those involved in education, training, culture and sport from 2027, after discussions in London and Brussels to fulfil a Labour election manifesto pledge.
The UK government said up to 100,000 people of all ages could benefit in the first year, and stressed that Erasmus membership “will create educational and training opportunities for British apprentices, further education students and adult learners, as well as those in higher education”.
David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said the announcement was “brilliant news” for staff and students of all ages in further education colleges.
He added: “For students, it widens their perspective on the world, opening their eyes to different cultures and different ways of life, and for staff, the opportunity to learn from other countries on how they deliver technical education and skills is invaluable.
“I am sure colleges will be delighted that they can offer these opportunities to students and staff.”
For university students, the decision means they will be able to spend up to a year studying at European universities as part of their UK degree courses without paying extra fees, while UK universities will be able to accept European students under the same terms.
Those travelling to Europe under the scheme will be eligible for a grant to help with the costs of living abroad, including those studying at FE colleges or on work placements.
The Erasmus scheme started in 1987 as a university exchange programme but has expanded over the past decade to include work and training placements, as well as funding for school trips and cultural events.
The UK left Erasmus after Brexit, with Boris Johnson claiming the programme did not offer value for money. The government set up a more restricted student travel programme, known as the Turing scheme. No announcement has yet been made about the future of the Turing scheme.
‘Big step forward,’ EU chiefs say as they welcome UK’s decision to rejoin Erasmus
EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, who was directly involved in the talks, hailed the UK’s move to rejoin Erasmus as a “big step forward” stressing it will “boost people-to-people ties” between the EU and the UK.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed the decision, saying it will “open the door to new shared experiences and lasting friendships”.
The official EU-UK “joint statement” on Erasmus is here.
Here is the key bit:
“Following the Summit, the European Commission and the United Kingdom have concluded their negotiations for the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027.
The United Kingdom association to Erasmus+ in 2027 would offer significant opportunities across the education, training, sport and youth sectors for individuals in the United Kingdom and the European Union, particularly for those in the younger generation. The European Commission and the United Kingdom look forward to these opportunities becoming available.
They are pleased that the specific terms of this association, including mutually agreed financial terms, represent a fair balance between the UK’s contributions and the benefits the programme offers and pave the way for United Kingdom participation in the programme in 2027.”
Jakub Krupa
Admittedly, as a former Erasmus exchange student in the UK, I may not be fully objective on this, but allow me to say personally that it just feels right to see the UK back in the scheme.
Exciting times for students on both sides of the English channel.
UK set to rejoin EU’s Erasmus scheme in 2027
And we have just had an official confirmation of our reporting overnight that the UK is set to rejoin the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme from 2027.
The UK contribution for the 2027/28 academic year will be £570m pounds ($760m), the British government said, adding that the deal included a 30% discount compared to the default terms under the current trade deal with the EU, Reuters noted.
As Pippa Crerar noted, the breakthrough on Erasmus will help the UK government demonstrate progress in its push to improve relations with the EU, after Keir Starmer declared last month that “we do need to get closer” with the bloc, and with public opinion softening.
US looking at fresh sanctions on Russia’s energy sector to push it to negotiate with Ukraine – reports
In the last half an hour Bloomberg News reported that the US is “preparing a fresh round of sanctions on Russia’s energy sector,” as it seeks to put more pressure on the Kremlin to engage with the peace process on Ukraine (£).
Moscow has just responded saying it had not seen the report, and it was still waiting for a debrief with the US after the Berlin talks over the weekend and on Monday.
Who stands where on EU reparations loan for Ukraine?
Jakub Krupa
If you want to test various scenarios ahead of tomorrow’s debate on Russian frozen assets, you can use this handy calculator to see what is needed to get the proposal passed under the so-called qualified majority vote, or QMV (expect to hear a lot about it in the next 48 hours).
As we know, the opposition is led by Belgium and its outspoken prime minister Bart de Wever, with Bulgaria, Czech Republic, and Malta also against. Italy has some doubts too (at least for now?), and Hungary, traditionally, is against anything that would help Ukraine.
Slovakia appears to be leaning towards against too, with prime minister Robert Fico saying this morning that he won’t support anything that prolongs the war and would increase military spending.
Last week Fico said “I will not support anything, even if we have to sit in Brussels until the New Year, which would lead to support for Ukraine’s military expenditures.”
Don’t give them ideas, Robert.
As it stands, that’s not enough to block the proposal (unless France switches sides, essentially) – but that’s assuming the supporters will really push it to the vote. While technically possible, it feels deeply implausible politically.
Let’s see if we get any further political signals from the capitals during the day.
Morning opening:
Jakub Krupa
EU leaders are entering final stages of negotiations ahead of this week’s crunch European Council meeting in Brussels, at which they will have to decide the critical decision on whether to use frozen Russian assets to fund a reparations loan for Ukraine.
Some 24 hours before they start their talks on Thursday, there is no agreement in sight, as Belgium continues to oppose the European Commission’s proposals as it worries about possible legal challenges from Russia. More worryingly for the countries supporting the loan, more countries seem to be having some doubts, including Italy.
Technically, the European Council could push ahead with a qualified majority vote, even if Belgium and some countries oppose the plan. But politically, the optics of doing that and acting against the will of the most invested member state’s will would be pretty tricky. Either way, it could very easily end up in mess.
The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has just opened a debate on the summit in the European Parliament, saying “there is no more important act of European defence than supporting Ukraine’s defence,” adding that “the next days will be a crucial step for securing this.”
She outlined both options given to the EU leaders ahead of tomorrow’s summit – the loan or new joint borrowing – but stressed:
“We will have to decide which way we want to take, which route we want to take. But one is one thing is very, very clear. We have to take the decision to fund Ukraine for the next two years in this European Council.”
Prepare for a long Thursday night, everyone.
More broadly, von der Leyen told EU lawmakers that “Europe must be responsible for its own security.”
She added: “This is no longer an option. It is a must.”
Let’s see what they the leaders will do this week, then.
I will bring you all the key updates throughout the day.
It’s Wednesday, 17 December 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
