The European University Association (EUA) is worried about the consequences of the United Kingdom’s leaving the EU on the Horizon 2020 research programme and on the Erasmus+ programme for education, training, youth and sport.
The organisation, which represents some 800 universities in 47 European countries, affirms in a press release published on 9 September that “UK universities will remain part of the European family”. In a factsheet extending to a few pages, it takes stock of the current situation and of the specific relations that the EU has forged with other partner countries. It says that the referendum in the UK in June has not, for the moment, changed anything: UK universities continue to apply to take part in European projects and students and staff continue to participate in the exchange programme.
Things will only change after Article 50 of the treaty on exit negotiations has been triggered and an agreement between the EU and the UK has been reached. Instead of putting forward hypothetical scenarios, the document simply notes the current state of collaboration with partner countries. It says, for example, that Norway participates in all Erasmus+ activities. “However, (its participation) is limited to working with programme countries only (Ed: as opposed to third countries). It has a National Erasmus+ Agency and contributes financially to the programme”, the factsheet says.
The EUA stresses that UK universities will remain part of the family of European universities which goes beyond EU borders.
The factsheet can be found at: http://www.eua.be/Libraries/publications-homepage-list/after-the-brexit-referendum-possible-outcomes-for-horizon-2020-and-erasmus.pdf?sfvrsn=4 (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)