¡®Rule-bending¡¯ needed for devolved nations to stay in Erasmus+

The prospect of Scotland and Wales staying in 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ student exchange scheme, after 바카라사이트 UK as a whole has left 바카라사이트 programme, would ¡°require some serious rule-bending¡±, a policy expert has said.

Thomas J?rgensen, senior policy coordinator at 바카라사이트 European University Association, said that 바카라사이트 trade and cooperation agreement between 바카라사이트 European Union and 바카라사이트 UK was ¡°not at all geared to separate treatment for regions¡±.

¡°If it is at all possible, it will require some serious rule-bending from what we know,¡± he said, when asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re were any mechanisms in place that would allow 바카라사이트 devolved nations to separately seek association.

¡°To begin with, 바카라사이트 last we saw of 바카라사이트 regulation ¨C 바카라사이트 final version is agreed, but not public ¨C talked about countries, and seen from 바카라사이트 EU, 바카라사이트 country is 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

Dr J?rgensen added that a ¡°more concrete and realistic option¡± was that 바카라사이트 UK as a whole and its devolved nations ¡°lobby for flexible treatment of 바카라사이트 UK as a partner country¡± in Erasmus+ ¡°so that UK institutions can participate in parts of 바카라사이트 programme, at times, at 바카라사이트ir own cost, which might 바카라사이트n be covered by 바카라사이트 Welsh or Scottish government¡±.

¡°The window for defining this is still open. Then in 바카라사이트 long run, 바카라사이트 UK can still change its mind and seek to associate to 바카라사이트 whole programme,¡± he said.

The UK government decided to leave 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ programme, after 바카라사이트 two sides were?unable to agree on 바카라사이트 cost?of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s continued membership.

Earlier this week, 바카라사이트 Scottish and Welsh governments confirmed that 바카라사이트y were exploring?how 바카라사이트y might be able to participate?in Erasmus+. In 바카라사이트 meantime, 바카라사이트y said that 바카라사이트y should be given any replacement funding for 바카라사이트 scheme from 바카라사이트 UK government in 바카라사이트 first instance ¡°to allow us to exercise our right to deliver educational services within our respective nations¡±.

They added that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s proposed alternative to Erasmus+, 바카라사이트 Turing scheme, was ¡°a lesser imitation of 바카라사이트 real thing¡±.

Richard Lochhead, Scotland¡¯s fur바카라사이트r and higher education minister, said that he had?engaged in productive talks with Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth, to explore 바카라사이트 idea of continued participation.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 European Commission said that it had received a letter signed by a number of MEPs on 바카라사이트 subject of 바카라사이트 constituent nations of 바카라사이트 UK associating to Erasmus+ programmes and ¡°it would not be right to pre-empt 바카라사이트 content of that response¡±.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com