Keir Starmer’s anticipated summit with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has faced delays due to tensions surrounding the UK’s approach to several EU programs. Originally set for early September, the meeting is now likely to be postponed until late October or possibly even later.
This delay reflects ongoing frustrations in the EU with the UK government’s reluctance to reinstate programs like the youth mobility and Erasmus university exchange schemes.
The EU has expressed disappointment at the UK’s cautious stance on these schemes. Diplomats argue that the hesitation to reinstate these relatively straightforward programs raises concerns about the UK’s commitment to a broader reset of relations with the EU. Such reluctance suggests a deeper issue with engaging in even incremental steps toward improving bilateral relations.
Keir Starmer’s EU Summit Delayed Amid UK’s Hesitation to Rejoin Erasmus and Youth Mobility Programs
Starmer’s hesitation may be influenced by domestic political considerations, particularly the risk of backlash from pro-Brexit opponents. There is speculation that Starmer is avoiding a swift commitment to these programs to avoid accusations of reversing Brexit. This political caution appears to be a significant factor in the delay and the tentative nature of the UK’s approach.
The postponement of the summit means that substantial discussions on resetting EU-UK relations might not commence until the spring of next year. An EU-UK summit could be scheduled for early 2025 to initiate these discussions. The delay is partly due to von der Leyen’s focus on assembling her new team of EU commissioners, with their appointments still awaiting ratification by the European Parliament.
Reinstating the Erasmus program would be complicated by the need to phase out the Turing scheme, which currently supports UK students studying abroad but lacks the reciprocal exchange feature of Erasmus. Critics highlight the financial drawbacks of the Turing scheme compared to Erasmus, which had a more established system for reciprocal exchanges.
Both UK and EU leaders acknowledge the importance of fostering youth exchanges, a sentiment echoed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has stressed the need to strengthen cultural and societal ties between the UK and Germany post-Brexit.
