The UK is aiming to secure an agreement within weeks to rejoin the European Union's Erasmus student mobility programme, as part of efforts to improve bilateral relations. Negotiators are targeting a deal by January that would allow UK participation from 2027 onwards, according to UK and EU officials.
The UK quit the £23bn programme after Brexit, when then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson argued it did not offer good value for money. The Labour government agreed to reopen negotiations at the UK-EU summit in May and has since worked to reduce the cost of rejoining.
A quick breakthrough on Erasmus would help ministers demonstrate progress in resetting ties with the EU, following a setback last week when defence talks collapsed over a dispute on money. The lack of an agreement limits UK companies' contributions to EU defence projects to 35%.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Monday that the Brexit deal had hurt the economy and that closer relations with the EU were essential. EU Ambassador to the UK Pedro Serrano added that stronger ties would bring a stronger Europe.
UK officials also reported slow progress on talks over a food standards deal, carbon emissions scheme, and youth mobility, partly due to delays in the EU's negotiating mandate. Discussions on food and carbon began in mid-November, six months later than planned, while youth mobility talks started in September.
