Offaly MEP welcomes UK return to Erasmus+ programme from 2027
Offaly Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Cowen has welcomed the UK’s agreement to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ programme in 2027, marking the first time since Brexit that UK students, apprentices, and youth groups will benefit from the initiative.
The deal, valued at £570 million, follows negotiations between London and Brussels and fulfils a key Labour Government election promise.
Erasmus+ supports study, training, apprenticeships, youth exchanges, and cultural cooperation across Europe. It’s regarded as one of the EU’s most successful programmes for fostering international experience and cultural links.
As a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade, Cowen has been active in advocating for EU-UK cooperation post-Brexit.
He called the UK’s return to Erasmus+ a positive step in rebuilding EU-UK relations, emphasizing the importance of young people regaining opportunities lost due to Brexit.
Cowen noted that this agreement signals the value of cooperation over isolation and hopes it will lead to further constructive EU-UK engagement in the future.
Speaking following the announcement, Barry Cowen MEP said:
“This is very welcome news and a positive, practical step in rebuilding the relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom after the damage caused by Brexit.
“Erasmus+ has been one of the EU’s most successful programmes for decades, opening doors for students, apprentices, young people and educators while strengthening cultural understanding and cooperation across borders.
“As someone who works closely on EU–UK files in the European Parliament, I have consistently made the case for re-engagement that delivers real outcomes for people, particularly young people who lost out most as a result of Brexit.
“The UK’s return to Erasmus+ sends an important signal that cooperation, not isolation, is the best way forward, and I hope it will pave the way for further constructive engagement between the EU and the UK in the years ahead.”