The UK government is hoping to secure an agreement within weeks to rejoin the European Union's Erasmus student exchange programme, with participation potentially starting from 2027. Two UK and EU officials said negotiators aim to finalise a deal by January, as part of broader efforts to improve relations with Brussels.
The UK quit the flagship scheme after Brexit, with then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson arguing it did not offer good value for money. The Labour government agreed to reopen negotiations at the UK-EU summit in May, and has been seeking to reduce the cost of rejoining the £23 billion programme.
Rejoining Erasmus is a key demand from EU capitals alongside a youth mobility deal that would allow young Europeans to live and work in the UK for several years, and vice versa. A quick breakthrough would help ministers show progress after talks over the EU's defence loans scheme collapsed last week over a dispute on the value of UK contributions.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told a press conference on Monday that “we do need to get closer” to the EU, adding that the Brexit deal “has hurt our economy”. He said “there is no credible economic future for Britain that did not involve open trade”. EU ambassador Pedro Serrano said “the EU is also seeking a closer relationship with the UK”.
Talks on food standards, a joint carbon emissions scheme, and youth mobility have been slow, partly due to delays in the EU's negotiating mandate. UK officials believe agreements can be reached quickly, as they face less resistance from European corporations than the defence deal. Issues include France's potential demand to maintain a ban on foie gras imports, and UK requests for leniency on genetically modified crops and mycotoxins in oatcakes.
