Thread by @Cardwell_PJ

The UK's Approach to EU negotiations document is now available. What does it say about #Erasmus #ErasmusPlus? /1 assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl… @lawstrath

In short, not much, but more than we had before. The Political Declaration spoke of "general principles, terms and conditions for the United Kingdom's participation in Union programmes" which includes education (point 11) /2 assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…

The EU negotiating directives do not mention #Erasmus specifically, but use the similar terms as in the Political Declaration re cooperation in education and other programmes (point 14) /3 consilium.europa.eu/media/42736/st…

So the UK's document is the closest we have to anything specific. Let's pick apart what "The UK will consider options for participation in elements of Erasmus+ on a time-limited basis, provided the terms are in the UK’s interests" (point 21) might mean. /4

The UK only seeks to 'consider options', and since the defeat of the amendment by @LaylaMoran in the House of Commons, it is not obliged to do more than that. /5

'Participation': #ErasmusPlus is an EU-run scheme, but many non-EU countries do participate in certain aspects, particularly Turkey, EEA, Balkan and neighbouring countries. So this is not impossible to achieve. /6

BUT it isn't clear what 'elements' refers to. Erasmus is best known for University students spending a semester/year abroad, but it has been embedded with programmes to combat (youth) unemployment, so vocational placements have become more important. /7

That makes the issue intertwined with free movement, which we know is ending. So stays in the UK for a period of more than a few weeks/months may fall within new (as yet undefined) visa regimes. /8

This makes the successful participation in Erasmus highly dependent on progress in other, fundamental areas of cooperation: particularly on movement of persons and overall budgetary considerations. /9

Including 'a time-limited basis' for participation seems a little strange, since Erasmus works on the basis of a 5-6 year cycle whereby contracts and funding have to be renewed. But I may be missing something here. /10

And the key: 'provided the terms are in the UK’s interests'. This, I think, means the money. As a third state, the UK will basically have to accept whatever price the EU sets for participation. This would cover the administration of the programme plus the bursaries... /11

and there is an open question as to whether the UK will be willing to pay for UK students to participate, given the noise about creating an alternative 'worldwide' scheme instead. /12

Dropping out of Erasmus completely would wreak havoc on Universities, particularly language degree programmes where study overseas is essential. But sacrificing such departments and programmes may be the collateral damage IF participation is not secured. /13

So, although it is a positive sign that #ErasmusPlus is specifically mentioned in the document, it matters little that there is widespread agreement that the scheme is a good thing for UK. /14

The reason for this is because of how Erasmus is embedded with other areas of law and financial consideration, which the UK may not be willing to accept. We are seemingly back to 'having cake and eating it' territory. /15

To respond to a regular claim, it is not just a matter of the UK simply paying for access: as an EU programme, the UK would need to be added to the relevant Directive, specifying its status, level of participation with the funding agreed in advance. Not necessarily easy. /16

In short, I remain pessimistic about the future participation of the UK in Erasmus. But *if* an EU-UK future agreement is forthcoming this year (when the transitional period ends), then Erasmus might be an example of EU/UK working together for tangible benefits. We will see. /END