Key data
| Regulation | Decision No. 1/2026 of the EU-United Kingdom Specialized Committee — CELEX:22026D1962 |
|---|---|
| Publication | August 27, 2026 |
| Entry into force | January 1, 2027 |
| Affected parties | Students, educational institutions, youth and sports organizations from the EU and the United Kingdom |
| Category | European Regulation |
| Applicable financial framework | Multi-annual 2021-2027 (financial participation only from 2027 commitments) |
| Modified rule | Protocol I of the EU-United Kingdom Trade and Cooperation Agreement (post-Brexit) |
Spanish and European universities, vocational training centers, youth organizations and sports entities recover the United Kingdom as an eligible partner in Erasmus+ from January 1, 2027. Decision No. 1/2026 of the EU-United Kingdom Specialized Committee, published on August 27, 2026, modifies Protocol I of the post-Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement to make this reincorporation possible.
The change is not retroactive: budget commitments from the 2021 to 2026 financial years are excluded. Only commitments from 2027 onwards—within the current 2021-2027 multi-annual financial framework—will generate eligible financing for British entities and citizens.
What does this regulation establish?
The decision regulates three key aspects of the United Kingdom's reincorporation into Erasmus+:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incorporation date | January 1, 2027 |
| Duration | Until the end of the 2021-2027 multi-annual financial framework |
| Financial contribution | Adjusted contribution key that reflects an equitable balance between what the United Kingdom contributes and what it receives |
| Retroactive eligibility | No: budget commitments from 2021-2026 excluded; only eligible from 2027 commitments |
| Successor programs | Participation in future successor programs to Erasmus+ will be negotiated on mutually agreed terms |
The rule being modified is Protocol I of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom, the legal framework governing bilateral relations since Brexit. This modification does not alter the overall agreement, but incorporates the United Kingdom as an associated country to the Erasmus+ program under the conditions described.
Economic and operational impact
The United Kingdom's reincorporation into Erasmus+ has direct consequences for organizations working on international cooperation projects:
- New sources of financing: Spanish and European entities will be able to include British partners in Erasmus+ consortia with access to financing from 2027 commitments.
- Balanced financial contribution: The United Kingdom will contribute to the program according to an adjusted contribution key, designed to reflect an equitable balance between contribution and return. This reduces the risk that British participation will generate financial imbalances for the program.
- Limited time window: Participation is limited to the remaining period of the 2021-2027 multi-annual financial framework. Continuity beyond 2027 will depend on future negotiations on mutually agreed terms.
- Project planning: Projects that want to include partners from the United Kingdom must be structured on 2027 commitments, which means initiating application procedures with sufficient advance notice.
Who does it affect?
- Spanish and European universities and higher education centers that want to establish mobility agreements with British institutions.
- Vocational training centers that participate in mobility or transnational cooperation projects.
- Youth organizations that develop exchange, volunteering or training projects with partners in the United Kingdom.
- Sports entities that participate in European sports projects included in the Erasmus+ program.
- Students and young people from the EU and the United Kingdom who aspire to participate in mobilities financed by Erasmus+.
- European project managers in NGOs, foundations and third sector entities with activity in education, youth or sports.
Practical example
A Spanish university that manages Erasmus+ projects wants to incorporate a British university as a partner in a student mobility consortium. Until now, since Brexit, that British university was not eligible to receive Erasmus+ financing.
From January 1, 2027, if the consortium is structured on budget commitments from 2027, the British institution will be able to participate as an eligible partner and students from both countries will be able to benefit from the program's grants. The Spanish university will need to initiate the application procedures with the National Erasmus+ Agency with sufficient time for the budget commitment to be formalized in 2027.
The same applies to a Spanish youth organization that wants to include a United Kingdom entity in a European volunteering project: the eligibility of the British partner will depend on the project being financed with commitments from 2027 onwards.
What should organizations do now?
- Identify potential partners in the United Kingdom: If your organization works in education, youth or sports, map which British institutions or entities could be strategic partners in future Erasmus+ projects.
- Review the 2027 call timelines: Consult the call calendar of the National Erasmus+ Agency to ensure that projects with British partners are structured on 2027 commitments.
- Do not include British partners in projects with commitments prior to 2027: Budget commitments from 2021 to 2026 do not generate eligibility for entities or citizens of the United Kingdom. Including them in those projects can generate justification problems.
- Follow the negotiation on successor programs: The United Kingdom's participation in the Erasmus+ program that succeeds the current one (post-2027) is not guaranteed and will depend on future negotiations. Plan with that horizon of uncertainty.
- Inform your European project management team: Technicians who manage Erasmus+ applications and justifications should be aware of the eligibility conditions for British partners from January 2027.
Frequently asked questions
When can British institutions participate in Erasmus+?
From January 1, 2027, the date Decision No. 1/2026 enters into force. They are only eligible for financing from budget commitments from 2027 onwards. Commitments from the 2021 to 2026 financial years are expressly excluded.
Can British students apply for Erasmus+ grants before 2027?
No. The eligibility of British citizens and entities for Erasmus+ financing is only activated from budget commitments from 2027. There is no retroactive effect on previous financial years of the 2021-2027 multi-annual financial framework.
How long will the United Kingdom be in Erasmus+?
The reincorporation is limited to the remaining period of the 2021-2027 multi-annual financial framework. Participation in future successor programs to Erasmus+ will be negotiated on mutually agreed terms between the EU and the United Kingdom, with no guarantee of automatic continuity.
How does the United Kingdom contribute financially to the program?
Through an adjusted financial contribution key, designed to reflect an equitable balance between what the United Kingdom contributes to the program and what it receives from it. The decision does not specify the concrete amount of that contribution.
What types of Spanish organizations can benefit from this reincorporation?
Universities, vocational training centers, youth organizations and sports entities that participate in Erasmus+ projects and want to include partners from the United Kingdom in their consortia from 2027 onwards.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:22026D1962