UK to Join Erasmus+ Program in 2027 with New Rules

Summary of the EU proposal (COM(2026) 106)

• Purpose – The European Commission proposes a Council Decision that tells the EU how to act in the Specialised Committee on Participation in Union Programmes. The decision will change Protocol I of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the EU and the UK so that the UK can join the Erasmus+ programme from 1 January 2027.

• Background

• The TCA entered into force on 1 May 2021.

• Protocol I lists the EU programmes in which the UK may participate.

• The UK already participates in the Space Programme (Regulation (EC) 2021/696) and Horizon Europe (Regulation (EC) 2021/695).

• After a summit in May 2025, the EU and the UK agreed that the UK should be an associated country in Erasmus+.

• The amendment will add Erasmus+ (Regulation (EC) 2021/817) to Protocol I and set the UK’s participation to start on 1 January 2027.

• Key points of the amendment

1. Participation dates – The UK will join Erasmus+ from 1 January 2027 and will not participate in the programme for the 2021‑2026 period.
2. Financial contribution – In 2027 the UK’s operational contribution will be 70 % of the normal contribution key (a 30 % reduction).
3. Conditions – The UK must notify a national authority, appoint a national agency and an independent audit body, and meet the conditions set out in Regulation (EC) 2021/817.
4. Review – Ten months after the start of participation, the Specialised Committee will review how the UK is using the programme and may suggest changes.
5. Statistical cooperation – The UK will provide population data to Eurostat under the statistical cooperation arrangement.
6. Reciprocity – UK entities will be able to participate in EU programmes that are equivalent to those the UK can join.

• Legal basis – The decision is based on Article 218(9) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) and on Articles 165(4) and 166(4) of the TFEU.

• Decision structure

• Article 1 – Sets the EU position in the Specialised Committee.

• Article 2 – Allows minor technical changes without a new Council decision.

• Article 3 – The decision takes effect on the day it is adopted.

• Amendments to Protocol I (in the annex)

• New paragraph 2 adds Erasmus+ to the list of programmes.

• New paragraphs 3 and 4 exclude budgetary commitments for 2021‑2026.

• Article 2 is updated to reflect participation dates and eligibility.

• New Articles 7‑11 cover conditions, financial terms, review, statistics, and reciprocity.

The proposal will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union after adoption.