Lib Dems urge post-Brexit protection for EU youth programme
Adam Offord
Monday, September 19, 2016
The participation of young people from the UK in the European Union's (EU) Erasmus training and study programme must continue after Brexit, the Liberal Democrats have said.
The call follows the backing of a motion at the party's annual conference that called on the government to commit to protecting the student exchange programme, also known as Erasmus+, in light of negotiations to withdraw the UK from the EU.
The programme, which has been running for 29 years, funds individuals to study, train, volunteer and gain work experience abroad in Europe. It is open to young people, students, apprentices, trainees and volunteers, as well as youth workers, teachers and the professionals of organisations working in the youth, sports, education and training sector.
?The programme is also the main EU fund for youth groups and services - last year. Out of the total €86m (£66m) available, €8.8m (£6.6m) went to UK groups delivering youth, education, training and sports projects. ?
?John Pugh, Liberal Democrat education spokesperson and MP for Southport, said it would be "utterly unfair" to deprive young people the opportunity to study abroad because they "overwhelmingly" voted to remain during the referendum on Britain's membership of the EU.
Data released following the referendum showed that UK citizens backed leaving the EU by 51.9 per cent to the remain vote's 48.1 per cent, but YouGov data showed three-quarters of 18 to 24-year-olds voted to remain.?
?"The government must commit to making it an absolute priority to preserve the UK's participation in Erasmus in the negotiations ahead," Pugh said.
A petition to "save studying abroad" has also been set up by the party, with the aim of taking it to European leaders and Downing Street.
A spokesman for the UK National Agency - a partnership between the British Council and Ecorys UK that runs the Erasmus+ programme in the UK - said a message issued following the referendum result explained that UK organisations and individuals could continue to take part while the country is still a member of the EU.?
"The UK National Agency remains wholly committed to the Erasmus+ programme and its benefits," the spokesman said.
??"We are continuing to promote it even more than before and Erasmus+ is very popular in the UK - UK organisations have applied for €230m so far this year out of €130m EU funding available, and the funding available increases each year from 2017 to 2020.
"We are urging organisations to continue with their Erasmus+ projects and applications to ensure that the Erasmus+ opportunities are taken up, to benefit the people and organisations of the UK."
A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said: "EU students make an important contribution to our world-class universities, and we want that to continue.
"While the UK remains a member of the EU, UK and EU students will continue to access exchange opportunities through Erasmus.
"The UK's future access to the Erasmus programme will be determined as part of wider discussions with the EU." ?
