On Wednesday 17 December, the UK and the European Union (EU) agreed that the UK will join the Erasmus+ scheme in 2027, widening opportunities for young people from all backgrounds, learners, educational, youth and sport staff to study and train abroad.
Erasmus+ offers opportunities around education, training, youth, culture and sport for participants of all ages. Over 100,000 people in the UK could benefit from the scheme in the first year alone. Data shows that studying abroad can boost the career prospects of students, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The UK negotiated financial terms that strike a fair balance between our contribution and the benefits the programme offers, including a 30% discount compared to the default terms under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This ensures value for UK taxpayers while guaranteeing full participation benefits.
The UK and EU also agreed to start negotiations on electricity market integration and set a deadline to agree a food and drink trade deal and carbon markets linkage next year.
Further information on this can be found on the Gov.uk website.