Nicosia, Cyprus. European Parliament member Loucas Fourlas said efforts are under way to reopen discussions on tuition fees for European Union students in the United Kingdom following Brexit, citing academic cooperation as a possible route to change.
He said the return of British universities to the EU’s Erasmus+ programme could provide a framework for revisiting the issue, after tuition fees increased for EU students when the UK left the bloc.
Erasmus+ seen as potential pathway
Speaking in a Philenews podcast, Fourlas said the re-engagement of British universities with Erasmus+ was a positive development that could support renewed talks on tuition fees. He said it could create conditions in which the issue may be reopened.
Impact of post-Brexit fee changes
Fourlas said EU students lost home-fee status after Brexit, adding that the resulting increase in tuition fees placed a heavy burden on families across Europe and remained politically and socially sensitive.
Calls for education to be part of wider engagement
Fourlas said education should not be treated as collateral damage of political decisions and argued that restoring more equitable access to British universities should be part of broader EU–UK engagement. He said Erasmus+ initiatives could help rebuild trust and cooperation, supporting wider discussions on student mobility and costs.
Next steps in the European Parliament
Fourlas said he would continue to raise the matter within the European Parliament, stressing that access to affordable education remains a core European value.
What changes, if any, do you think should be prioritised to improve affordability for EU students studying in the United Kingdom?
