The EU is seeking a clearer commitment from the British government before this month’s summit, to ensure that European students receive discounts on university tuition fees.
At a meeting of senior EU diplomats held on November 4th, at least six EU member states called on the UK to make a clear commitment before the summit that EU students would pay lower tuition fees compared to those in the UK.
These member states oppose postponing the agreement for another six months. Many believe that if no agreement can be reached, the implementation of the much-anticipated food and drink agreement should be postponed; this agreement aims to reduce the paperwork associated with Brexit.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will meet EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa in Brussels on November 20. The goal is to sign three agreements related to food and beverages, the carbon market, and youth exchange. He also promised to establish 'credible partnerships' in the steel and defense industries.
However, the long-standing debate over whether EU students should pay high international tuition fees at British universities remains unresolved. This could delay the implementation of the food and energy deals, which are worth billions of pounds to the British economy.
The EU hopes to return to the situation before Brexit, where European students pay tuition fees at the same standards as British universities, rather than international tuition fees. International tuition fees for undergraduate programs may be four to six times higher.
European Commission negotiators proposed to postpone the tuition fee agreement by six months to ensure the success of the activities in November. At that time, Bernham is expected to demonstrate his commitment to establishing closer relations with the EU.
According to sources close to the EU, including six member states from Central and Eastern Europe, hope for resolving university tuition fees before the summit. Many countries are seeking a clearer commitment from the UK government on this issue.
An EU diplomat told the UK's _The Telegraph_ that "without tuition exchange agreements, setting up a youth exchange program would be nearly worthless." He pointed out that many universities within the EU are significantly cheaper to attend, making this arrangement more advantageous for British students.
The British government spokesperson said: "We do not comment on information that has been leaked, nor do we make real-time comments on ongoing negotiations. We are building an ambitious and close relationship with the European Union, which will strengthen our economy, protect British industries, and create more opportunities for young people across the UK."
Previously, a leaked summit statement hinted at the connection between three agreements: tuition fees for youth exchange programs, food-related agreements, and the carbon market. It was expected that these agreements would come into effect simultaneously and in a timely manner.
