UK will rejoin Erasmus+

Four years ago, the United Kingdom surprised many by withdrawing from the Erasmus+ programme. This made it harder for Dutch students to go to the UK on exchange. However, thanks to the new government, the British are growing closer to the EU again. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's geopolitics may also explain the proximity.

With new agreements on defence, trade and fishing, Brexit has been softened somewhat. On Monday, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, also announced that the United Kingdom will rejoin Erasmus+. However, neither she nor the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, could say exactly how this would be arranged and paid for.

In love
During a press conference, Von der Leyen referred to her own experience as a German exchange student at the London School of Economics in the 1970s. She said that such an experience makes you fall in love with a country and shapes you for life.

Getting the British back into Erasmus+ has always been an important goal for the EU, but the British are divided on the matter. The leader of the Conservative Party is critical of Starmer's deal as she fears “unlimited migration”. Having more control over migration was one of the reasons the British decided to leave the EU.

When the United Kingdom was still part of Erasmus+, it was a net recipient of European students. In an average year, twice as many “continental” students went to the UK as vice versa.