SCORES of European decision-makers are supporting Scotland’s continuing European links. More than a quarter of all members of the European Parliament have signed a cross-party letter about the potential for Scotland and Wales to remain in the Erasmus education scheme. Be under no illusion, this is a direct example of the sympathy felt by decision-makers for Scotland’s predicament as a pro-European country being taken out of the EU against our democratic wishes.
Despite Brexit, the Scottish Government has been exploring ways to retain participation in the Erasmus student exchange scheme. Scotland’s Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead has held virtual discussions with Mariya Gabriel, the European commissioner for education. No doubt they have been having to deal with an unsupportive UK Government that walked away from Erasmus, despite the opportunity to continue after Brexit.
The scheme has been an integral part of Scotland’s higher education, with about 2000 Scottish students taking part each year and more than 12,000 EU students studying in Scotland as part of the Erasmus+ programme. With the Erasmus budget proposed to rise to €30 billion between 2020-27, including the tripling in number of participants and improving access for those from disadvantaged backgrounds it would be hugely advantageous for Scotland to continue as part of the scheme.
Richard Lochhead has been a strong voice for Erasmus and the benefit it has brought to thousands of Scottish students, as well as European students who have come to Scottish educational institutions: “The loss of Erasmus is huge blow. This is simply unacceptable and we are looking at alternative options. After years of discussions and meetings, the UK Government has made these decisions irrespective of the views of the devolved administrations. We found out from media reports more details of the UK’s alternative scheme, which is a watered down and less well-funded version of Erasmus and it’s not even an exchange program because there is no support for visits to Scotland.”
It is a huge boost for Scotland to have the active support of scores of European parliamentarians, including the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament David McAllister, former Czech foreign minister Radek Sikorski and Terry Reintke of the German Greens, who initiated a cross-party letter to EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and the education commissioner Mariya Gabriel. Reintke, who herself studied at Edinburgh University with the Erasmus scheme said she has never had so much support for an initiative in such a short period of time with more than a fifth of all MEPs from all democratic groups and from across the EU signing the letter within a day and half.
In their letter, more than 144 MEPs wrote: “As voiced by many on both sides of the Channel, we are deeply saddened and concerned to have learnt that the Government of the United Kingdom decided to leave the Erasmus programme. The Erasmus programme has proven to have a significant impact on young people’s lives in Europe – not only on their language, cultural and personal skills, but also on their motivation to strengthen a peaceful and solidary European society.
“We would like to address the following questions as we recognise a pronounced aspiration coming from Scotland and Wales to enable students and young professionals to continue participating in this programme: “Do you see a pathway to extend the benefits of Erasmus Programme to students and young professionals in Scotland and Wales? Would you consider Scotland and Wales as entities as mentioned in the inter-institutional agreement text on the future regulation for the Erasmus Programme? Have you been in contact with the respective above mentioned governments and, if not, would you be willing to further purse this matter in a direct exchange?”
READ MORE: Brussels looks at enabling Scotland to remain in EU's Erasmus scheme
As things currently stand with Scotland’s constitutional limitations the UK can unfortunately block Scotland’s continuing participation in the Erasmus scheme and they are no doubt unwilling to maintain Scotland’s exchange funding for Erasmus, rather than their inferior Turing Scheme.
Brexit has already dealt the country a serious economic blow, as the Scottish fisheries sector is sadly now finding out to its cost. However Brexit is also damaging to our cultural, educational and other long-established links with the continent. It is hugely encouraging to see the broad support from decision-makers from across the European Union to explore the opportunities for Scotland and Wales to continue in the Erasmus programme and it’s hugely welcome to see the Scottish Government try to protect Scotland’s place in the Erasmus scheme. Now its up to Scotland’s opposition parties and the UK Government to make their position clear: will they support the Scottish Government and European decision-makers so Scotland can continue in the Erasmus scheme. Yes or No?
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