MPs throw out move to protect Erasmus+ scheme
Fiona Simpson
Thursday, January 9, 2020
A clause designed to protect the UK’s involvement in the European Union’s (EU) Erasmus+ youth study and training scheme has been voted down by MPs.
New clause 10 of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill would have required the government to seek to negotiate continuing full membership of the programme. A second reading of the clause was rejected by 344 votes to 254.
Funding for the current phase of Erasmus+ is in place throughout 2020, however, there is currently no decision on the UK's involvement in the next stage of the programme which will run from 2021 to 2027.
MPs have voted against New Clause 10 being read a second time, by 344 votes to 254.
— UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) January 8, 2020
This new clause would have required the Government to seek to negotiate continuing full membership of the EU’s Erasmus+ education and youth programme.
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who tabled the new clause hailed the scheme as “incredible” and said MPs voting to support it should have been a “no-brainer”.
"For students, young people, those in training and staff who work in the education sector, the Erasmus scheme has been absolutely incredible," she said.
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner added that the move meant “an experience denied to the next generation of higher education students”.
Leigh Middleton, NYA chief executive, said: “NYA will continue to press for the UK to remain part of the Erasmus+ programme.
“We are disappointed there isn’t a commitment secured in the EU Withdrawal Bill. However we are looking to a later Education Bill to include that international work. This should open up further opportunities for thousands of young people and valuable international networks for youth work.”
This is really sad and l would have liked the continuation of full membership of the EU’s Erasmus+ education and youth programme. So many have gained a positive experience from this programme over many years, an experience denied to the next generation of HE students https://t.co/OzQ3g4ACkZ
— Angela Rayner 🌈 (@AngelaRayner) January 9, 2020
Jane Racz, director of the Erasmus+ UK national agency, said: "The Erasmus+ programme has delivered and continues to deliver significant benefits to the UK and we need to ensure the positives of the programme are not lost as we move into the next stage.”
The Department for Education (DfE) insisted the government is “continuing the academic relationship between the UK and the EU, including through the next Erasmus+ programme if it is in our interests to do so”.
A spokesman said: “The vote last night does not change that.
“As we enter negotiations with the EU, we want to ensure that UK and European students can continue to benefit from each other’s world-leading education systems.”
Universities minister Chris Skidmore added on Twitter that the government is “open to participation in the new Erasmus successor programme from 2021- this will be part of future relationship negotiations with the EU once the scheme has been finalised.”
A report published last year by the House of Lords European Select Committee on the programme expressed concerns that losing access to the programme's funding would deny disadvantaged young people the chance to study and train abroad.
