Page 16 - ELG1906 May-Jun Issue 465

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EU special news
SPECIAL FEATURE
British lettori battle on EU agrees emergency funds ees emergency funds project double in size, and EU plans
EU agr
anticipate increasing the number
of non-EU partner countries.
for Erasmus in
as Brexit looms for Erasmus in the UKthe UK However the plans published by the
EU mentions the UK only once, to
when the current round of
abroad participating in Erasmus+
note the absence of the country’s
By Matt Salusbury
Erasmus funding ends. The at the time of the UK’s withdrawal contribution to the EU budget.
On 25 March, just four days before emergency measure makes clear can complete their studies and In 2018, the UK confirmed that
By Matt Salusbury to end discrimination against Lidington, together with the the UK was originally scheduled that, with regards to Erasmus, “the continue to receive the relevant participation in the Erasmus+
The saga of the lettori – foreign lettori. UK’s ambassador to Italy, to leave the EU, the European United Kingdom shall be treated funding or grants.” successor scheme would form part
language lecturers, unlawfully The lettori’s case dates all the announced that progress had DAVID PETRIE Parliament rushed through a as a Member State, subject to this If the regulation had not passed, of its negotiations with the EU
paid less and engaged on worse way back to 1980. EU-national been made with Italy’s then- regulation protecting the rights of Regulation,” until that date. the 14,000 Europeans on Erasmus during the transition period
contracts than their Italian foreign language lecturers on foreign minister towards the 21,000 participants currently Somewhat surprisingly, the UK programmes in the UK would not expected after the withdrawal
counterparts – shows no sign a contracts to Italy’s universities resolving the lettori issue, as a taking part in an Erasmus+ mobility Government made no mention of have been able to complete their agreement had been ratified. With
resolution as the UK prepares were downgraded to the lower token of goodwill as part of post- programme involving the UK. the new regulation when it issued programmes and might no longer the British parliament having voted
to exit the European Union. status of technician. Such Brexit Anglo-Italian relations. The UK’s leaving date has now its own update on Erasmus+, on 8 have been eligible for grants. The down the agreement twice this year,
Some 30-40 per cent of a total discrimination is illegal under Italy’s current Five Star been extended until 31 October of April, almost two weeks after the 7,000 British citizens on programmes government plans for Erasmus in a
of around 250 lettori are UK EU legislation, as reaffirmed in Movement/Liga Nord coalition this year. The new EU regulation, European Parliament passed the abroad were guaranteed funding by no-deal scenario remain unclear.
nationals. six European Court of Justice government, though, has shown which is now in force, guarantees measure. the UK government in 2018 but, British Universities were given
The implementation of a new (ECJ) rulings against Italy. The no apparent interest in the case. funding until 31 January 2020, Regulation (EU) 2019/499, despite assurances from ministers the impression that, in the event
law designed to compel Italy’s European Commission has so Those lettori who are UK to give it its full name, began to the contrary, the guarantee did of Britain leaving without a deal,
universities to factor in the costs far been ineffective, however, in nationals will no longer be David Petrie, President of life as a European Commission not cover participants from other the government would create
of properly paying lettori has been enforcing “proceedings” against able to petition the European the Association of Foreign PXHERE ‘contingency proposal’, which the countries currently in the UK. an alternative scheme. This is
delayed. A British Member of the Italy over the lettori case. Parliament or the European Lecturers in Italy, representing EU Parliament asked to be put As well as students on looking increasingly unlikely,
European Parliament (MEP) has Shortly after the 2016 UK Commission after the UK leaves the lettori at the European before it to vote. exchange programmes at foreign according to Vivienne Stern of
recently called for a European vote to leave the EU, then- the EU. Currently the ‘transition Parliament in 2018 The original proposal had the universities, Erasmus+ covers Universities UK, which represent
Commissioner to “act urgently” UK Minister for Europe David period’ – during which ECJ At the repeated insistence of stated aim of protecting “the those in vocational education the country’s vice chancellors.
judgements still apply to UK the European Commission, Italy rights of Erasmus+ participants” and training, youth learners, “As we understand it, there is no
citizens – ends 31 December passed a law in November 2017 in the event the UK left the Union and educational staff on teacher money on the table for an alternative
2020, although this period might which requires universities to without a negotiated deal, the so- training programmes. scheme,” she told the Guardian
LETTORI well be extended. MEP ensure adequate funding to pay EU parliament (pictured here) called ‘no deal’ scenario. The bill Erasmus+, due to launch 2020, newspaper in March, “and no work
The successor programme to
Kirton-Darling
Jude
is designed to ensure that “in such
lettori in the future on the same
is under way in the Department for
extended Erasmus+ funds
recently called for European contracts as Italian colleagues, until January 2020 a scenario, students and trainees is scheduled to see this flagship Education to prepare one.”
Justice Commissioner Vera with some state-aided co-funding.
Jourová to intervene. The This law will not affect the
Irish
European Parliament Petitions lettori still fighting their cases, Irish eye a Brexit eye a Brexit
Committee has also referred the who were employed on contracts
bounce for ELTT
lettori case to the Parliament’s dating back beyond 1995, and bounce for EL
Brexit Steering Committee. in some cases to 1980. The vast
David T C Davies MP (not to be majority of these have retired
confused with former UK Brexit and some have since died, with By Matt Salusbury Economic Area, with 75 per cent
secretary David Davis MP), has their cases still being fought by Figures recently released by of European students coming
pledged to ask UK foreign affairs surviving spouses or children. An language schools’ association from Italy and Spain. Among
minister Sir Alan Duncan to raise Italian Senate document makes Marketing English in Ireland those on courses for juniors, some
the issue of the British lettori with clear that the 2017 law has been (MEI), show that the sector’s 90 per cent are from within the
UK lettori petition European commissioner Neil Kinnock incoming Italian Prime Minister put on hold until October this total student enrolments for EEA.
(fi rst from right) on 5 April 2013 Giuseppe Conte. year at the earliest. 2018 was just over 121,000 – Just under 25,000 students
slightly down on the previous came from non-EU countries that
year’s record-breaking total. don’t need visas for short stays
French put fees up to attract more students However, students seem to be – Brazil being by far the biggest
sending country, accounting for
staying slightly longer on average
– the total number of weeks three-fifths of non-EU nationals.
By Matt Salusbury of the “reception” of international for non-EU nationals, including tuition” fee of €2,770 a year stayed by students last year was After Brazil, the biggest “non-
France is investing in improving students in higher education, as students, have recently been for a bachelors’ course, or an unprecedented 806,000 – five visa” sending countries were Japan
facilities for its international part of an ambitious plan to grow simplified. €3,770 for a masters. Part of per cent up on 2018. and Mexico. Saudi Arabia, Russia
students, just as a big increase in international student numbers One attraction of France for the rationale for the rise is that Three-quarters of students and China were prominent among
fees its public-sector universities to a target of half a million by international students has been fees have been so low that they were from the European the relatively small proportion of
can charge non-EU students 2027. Around half the money the low tuition fees for subsidised have somehow created a false students (8,783) from
kicks in. will go on equipping France’s higher education. EU nationals perception that the courses countries whose nationals
With 300,000 international higher education providers with a pay from just €170 per year were of low quality. require visas.
students in academic year 2018, “welcome desk” for international for a bachelor of arts degree – Campus France has a WWW.PIXAEL.COM Marketing English in
twelve per cent of the country’s students. rising to €600 for subjects such symposium in Strasbourg Ireland’s CEO David
total student body, France is the The remainder of the funding as engineering and €243 for a planned for May on the theme O’Grady noted that as
world’s fourth-most popular study is to strengthen English-medium master degree. of ‘the quality of reception Brexit nears, it presents
destination. course provision, for peer support Current non-EU students pay facilities’ for international “the opportunity for
Campus France, the state for international students just €380, far less than in most students in France. Topics Ireland to become the
agency promoting France’s and for courses in French as a competitor countries. Non-EU include the place of French and number one destination
universities abroad, is putting €10 foreign language. Carte de Sejour students starting new courses English in France’s international in Europe to study
million into improving the quality (residency permit) formalities will now pay a “differentiated education. St. Patrick’s Day, Dublin, Ireland English.”

EU4 May/June 2019 editorial@elgazette.com EU5