Brussels: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday celebrated Britain's return to the Erasmus+ student exchange programme, marking it as a significant step in the renewed strategic partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
According to Kuwait News Agency, von der Leyen shared in a post on X that the two sides have successfully concluded negotiations regarding the United Kingdom's association with the Erasmus+ programme starting from 2027. She emphasized how this move will once again make Erasmus+ accessible to young people in the UK, fostering new shared experiences and forging lasting friendships. Additionally, von der Leyen noted that both parties have wrapped up exploratory talks concerning Britain's participation in the EU's internal electricity market, highlighting enhanced cooperation in the energy sector.
Von der Leyen reiterated the commitment of both the EU and the UK to continue pursuing their common agenda in anticipation of the next EU-UK Summit. A joint EU-UK statement released on Wednesday confirmed that Britain would rejoin the Erasmus+ programme after nearly five years of withdrawal following Brexit.