The European Union and the United Kingdom pave the way for the UK's return to Erasmus+ in 2027

The European Union and the United Kingdom have taken a decisive step towards the association of Great Britain with the Erasmus+ program starting in 2027, following a modification of the trade and cooperation agreement between the two parties. The decision allows participants from the United Kingdom to benefit from the same conditions as those from EU member states and other countries associated with the program.

In short

The United Kingdom will be associated with the Erasmus+ program starting in 2027.

Students, academic staff, and British institutions will have access to the same opportunities as those in the EU.

The decision implements the commitments made at the EU-UK summit in 2025.

The program will facilitate mobility and academic cooperation between the two parties.

The United Kingdom will designate a national agency to manage its participation.

The association of the United Kingdom with Erasmus+ will allow students, teachers, and educational institutions to participate in study, training, and exchange programs under the same conditions as participants from the European Union. The measure aims to strengthen educational ties and facilitate cross-border mobility, following the period in which Great Britain did not participate in the program after Brexit.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated: "Europe and the United Kingdom have benefited for centuries from mutually advantageous educational ties. Strengthening these ties makes sense for both parties – for students, teachers, educational systems, economies, and our societies. I look forward to the considerable potential of this development being realized as soon as possible."

Executive Vice President Roxana Mînzatu emphasized the social dimension of the decision, stating: "For a strong EU-UK partnership in the future, we must invest in young people today. The UK's accession to Erasmus+ in 2027 is a beneficial outcome for both parties, opening opportunities for young people on both sides of the English Channel. We are rebuilding opportunities for the new generation to study, work, and grow together, providing access to a broader spectrum of possibilities and diversity."

Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič stated: "With the signing of the decision for the UK's association with the Erasmus+ program in 2027, we have fulfilled another commitment made at last year's EU-UK summit. This will allow tens of thousands of citizens to study, learn, and train on the other side of the English Channel and will strengthen ties between people. We will continue to strengthen EU-UK relations by advancing the other objectives of our renewed agenda."

The UK's participation in Erasmus+ is presented as a tool for strengthening academic cooperation and developing skills. The program will facilitate exchanges between institutions, enable the development of innovative teaching methods, and contribute to the use of new technologies in education.

In parallel, the measure is seen as part of a broader relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom, in which cooperation extends beyond education. European authorities emphasize that the association with Erasmus+ contributes to strengthening relations between the two parties and to developing a common agenda in areas of mutual interest.

The United Kingdom will designate a national agency responsible for implementing the program, which will manage the participation of institutions and British beneficiaries starting in 2027.

The Erasmus+ program is the main tool of the European Union for academic mobility, education, and training. Alongside member states, the program also includes several associated third countries, and the UK's association marks the resumption of its participation in one of the most important European programs after Brexit.

The association decision implements the commitments made at the EU-UK summit in 2025 and reflects a broader trend of strengthening relations between the two parties in strategic areas, including education and youth mobility.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/uniunea-europeana-si-regatul-unit-deschid-calea-revenirii-uk-in-erasmus-din-2027