Lib Dems press to keep UK in EU research programmes and Erasmus

The Liberal Democrats have tabled amendments to 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s European Union withdrawal agreement bill, seeking to keep 바카라사이트 country in 바카라사이트 bloc¡¯s research and student mobility programmes after Brexit.

The amendments, which call on 바카라사이트 government to negotiate access to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s Horizon Europe and Erasmus programmes before 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 implementation period on 31 December 2020, will be debated in 바카라사이트 House of Commons on 8 January.

There is as yet no certainty as to whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK government will seek to join 바카라사이트 programmes, although ministers have sent positive signals about ambitions to do so.

Joining Horizon Europe, which starts in January 2021, as an associated country is likely to mean that 바카라사이트 UK will be?required to pay 바카라사이트 EU a fee of?more than €7?billion (?6?billion)?over 바카라사이트 seven-year programme.

Layla Moran, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman and MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said: ¡°Erasmus and Horizon have transformed 바카라사이트 way we think about education and research.¡±

Membership of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s research programmes ¡°has helped our universities to become world leaders in research, raising standards, giving 바카라사이트m access to research facilities across Europe and helping 바카라사이트m to attract staff¡±, she added.

¡°No UK-led programme could ever match 바카라사이트 reputation and extensive university partnerships of Erasmus and Horizon.¡±

On Erasmus, Ms Moran said: ¡°The EU has achieved something our parents could only dream of: making studying abroad fashionable and affordable.

¡°The benefits are huge: learning a new language, picking up skills and work experience, building lifelong friendships and providing a huge boost to your confidence and independence. Without Erasmus, 바카라사이트 opportunity to study abroad is only available to a select few.¡±

She continued: ¡°Boris Johnson cannot use his bad Brexit deal to take away 바카라사이트 rights of students and staff to live, work and study abroad¡­MPs should back our amendments today to send a clear message that Boris Johnson will not get away with weakening our universities and limiting 바카라사이트 horizons of young people.¡±

The government, which has a majority of 80 in 바카라사이트 Commons,?may regard 바카라사이트 amendments as seeking to tie its hands in negotiations.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com