The UK government must follow up its symbolic and long-overdue decision to re-enter the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme with concrete steps to re-join the EU, the Rejoin EU Party says.
The Rejoin EU Party welcomes the Erasmus move, which follows the launch of a petition and concerted campaigning by ourselves and the broader pro-EU movement to return the UK to the scheme.
However, while students and the academic community have also applauded the decision, some have voiced concerns that bureaucratic hurdles like getting visas for travel to European countries remain simply because the UK is no longer part of the EU.
It highlights the fact that while Erasmus is symbolically important, the only real way to address the economic, logistical and cultural damage done by Brexit is to re-join the EU as a whole, Rejoin EU says.
Although Keir Starmer would deny it, re-joining the Erasmus programme is a symbolic first step towards re-joining the EU. Leaving the programme was an act of educational vandalism which Boris Johnson allowed despite denying in 2020 that it would ever happen,” Rejoin EU Party chairman Brendan Donnelly said.
Many young British people will now enjoy the enriching experience of living and studying in other European countries and the opportunity to appreciate better the European identity and culture we share with our neighbours.
“However, we live in a time of high political volatility. It’s a delusion to believe there’s any basis on which the UK can construct a solid future for itself other than in Europe.
“Labour must grasp the European nettle and follow up this long-overdue decision with action to address the rest of the damage done by Brexit – and that can only mean re-joining.”
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