Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on ensuring that Northern Ireland can continue to participate in the Erasmus+ programme after the end of the transition period.

The UK will continue to participate fully in the current (2014-2020) Erasmus+ programme under the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the European Union (EU). This means that the projects successfully bid for during the current programmes will continue to receive EU funding for the full duration of the project. This includes projects where funding runs beyond 2020 and the end of the transition period.

With regards to the next Erasmus+ programme (2021-27), the government remains open to considering participation in elements of the next Erasmus+ programme, provided that the terms are in the UK’s interests. Future participation is subject to our ongoing negotiations with the EU.

Ministers regularly meet to discuss the ongoing negotiations, including the UK’s consideration of programmes participation. While international relations remain a reserved matter, the UK government is committed to working closely with the devolved administrations throughout negotiations with the EU to ensure a future relationship that works in the interests of the whole of the UK.

In parallel, the government is continuing to develop a domestic alternative to Erasmus+, to ensure we are prepared for every eventuality. We are working closely with other government departments and the devolved administrations as we work towards a UK-wide domestic alternative scheme.