On Monday 4th of December, the European Movement alongside the Young European Movement launched our ‘Embrace Erasmus+’ petition calling on the government to rejoin the Erasmus+ programme and since then, signatures have only increased, reaching more than 25,000. Since it's launch the campaign has been supported by the likes of Sadiq Khan, Vince Cable, Caroline Lucas MP, Layla Moran MP and Liz Saville Roberts MP. It featured in the Evening Standard, POLITICO, The London Economic and GB News.
A big thank you to all the signatories. If you still haven’t then you can do it here today!
On Tuesday 5th of December, the petition was supported during a meeting in Westminster by Alyn Smith MP, Nathalie Loiseau MEP and Colm Markey MEP. Indeed, during an hour of intense discussion, the three speakers deplored the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Erasmus programme regretting the lost opportunities to study, work or travel for the young generation since Brexit. All want the UK to return to the Erasmus program, not being satisfied by the alternative put forward by the British government, the Turing scheme.
On Wednesday 6th of December, the petition was presented at the EU Citizens gatherine in London, where the campaign gained even more momentum as MEPs, MPs, and diplomats discussed Erasmus+ and stood shoulder to shoulder in support of the campaign.
This is only the beginning. So, if you haven’t already, please sign the petition. It’s vital that as many of us as possible speak out and show this government that they can't ignore the next generation any longer.
In the meantime, if you haven’t already registered to attend our webinar ‘Turing is not enough: Time to rejoin Erasmus+ taking place next Tuesday 12th Dec, 6:30-7:30pm you can still do so here. During the webinar you will hear from Klajdi Selimi (Chair), President of Young European Movement UK, Lord Storey, Lib Dem’s Education Spokesperson in the House of Lords, Ray Kirtley, Chair of UK Global Learning Association for Schools, Dr. Steve Barnes, a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society with 12 years of lecturing experience across further and higher education in the UK, and Co-Editor of the journal “Mental Health and Digital Technologies”, Véronique Martin, was a student on on the first ever year of Erasmus, Amelia Hughes, Comms and Campaigns Officer at EM UK, who enrolled on various Erasmus+ schemes pre-Brexit whilst a student in the North-East of England.