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The United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union has led to notable changes for UK-based organisations seeking to engage in EU-funded projects.

Brexit has not completely barred UK organisations from participating in EU projects, but it has introduced limitations and fewer opportunities due to the UK’s new status as a “Third Country”.

To illustrate these changes, consider the following:

EU-based organisations can participate in any EU project without restriction.

Some non-EU countries are treated similarly to EU countries for specific calls. For example, Turkey, Iceland, Norway, and others have the same rights as EU countries in some calls within the Erasmus+ program. They are called “non-EU countries associated with the Programme.”

Then we have Third Countries, e.g., Countries that do not belong to the EU. Some calls are open to Third Countries, particularly those focused on capacity building or cooperation projects, while others are not. Participation in some calls may also come with limitations. For example, Third Countries partners can be partners but not coordinators.

Consequently, UK-based organisations must carefully review the eligibility criteria for each specific call.

For instance, following Brexit, the UK became classified as a Third Country for the Erasmus+ program. Schools and universities that were heavily involved in Erasmus+ exchanges and joint projects now face a more challenging landscape. Many have struggled to maintain partnerships due to the program’s revised eligibility criteria.

In the 2018-2019 academic year, UK universities participated in over 2,000 Erasmus+ partnerships, sending around 34,000 students to EU countries and hosting about 29,000 EU students. Post-Brexit, the number of UK institutions involved has dropped significantly. In the 2021-2022 academic year, the number of new EU students in the UK fell by 53% compared to pre-pandemic levels.

It’s important to note that eligibility conditions and country statuses can change based on political agreements. This means that, potentially, the UK may become an Erasmus Plus “No-EU country associated with the Programme” again and start to be fully involved in and coordinate Erasmus Plus projects.

For example, a significant agreement reached in September 2023 between the UK and the EU revised the terms of participation. This agreement allows the UK to participate from January 2024 in Copernicus, the EU’s Earth observation program, and Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation program for 2021-2027.

Written by: Cristina Ceccarelli