British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing for his first major UK-EU summit since taking office, with talks expected to cover trade, emissions rules, and a new youth mobility scheme. The single biggest sticking point remains university tuition fees for EU students.
Visit to Stormont
On August 27th, Burnham made his first official visit to Northern Ireland as prime minister. Speaking to news reporters, many were shocked by the way he plainly stated that any discussion on the prospect of a united Ireland would be “off the table.” He claimed that the past decade had already been tumultuous with referendums, referring to Scottish independence and Brexit, and said he wants to focus now on “bringing people together.”
This did not go down well with many politicians, notably Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald. She pointed out that Burnham “simply does not have the right to dismiss or disregard” the right to a referendum, as is set out in the Good Friday Agreement. It makes Irish reunification a legal right, not just a political option — it gives the people of the island of Ireland the right to bring about a united Ireland. It can happen through a border poll if voters choose it, and this is written into UK law. No prime minister has the power to simply take that off the table. McDonald added that preparations for an eventual referendum should begin now, to avoid the chaos that ensued during the Brexit process.
BRETURN?
In 2025, Burnham said that he hoped to see the UK rejoin the EU in his lifetime, while his EU relations minister, Hamish Falconer, has declined to rule out a future return to the EU. However, Downing Street has confirmed that ex-PM Starmer’s Brexit red lines remain in place, meaning the UK will not return to the single market, the customs union, or free movement of people.
Since stepping into office, Burnham has made clear that he does not intend to rehash Brexit arguments and is not considering rejoining. He has, however, claimed that he wants to be “bolder” than his predecessor in bridging the gap with Europe.
The Summit and Tuition Fees
The rescheduled UK-EU summit, due to take place sometime in November, is expected to finalise agreements on a number of topics. One important topic concerns a youth mobility scheme. UK universities have already rejoined the Erasmus+ scheme through a deal negotiated under Starmer, coming into effect in 2027, yet Brussels is pushing for more and making attempts to negotiate a decrease in fees for EU students.
Fees for EU undergraduate students currently reach up to £38,000 (€44,365) a year at UK universities, compared to £9,535 (€11,132) for UK students. UK universities have said that a decrease in international fee applicants, currently including EU students, would significantly reduce their income at a time when many institutions are already under financial strain.
Both parties have also disagreed on the scale of the mobility scheme. The EU has proposed a cap of around 100,000 participants a year, whereas UK negotiators remain seemingly adamant on their proposed lower cap of 30,000 to 50,000.
Reports indicate Starmer had agreed to reduce EU student fees in the final days of his premiership, as a condition for securing a summit date with the EU, yet the summit was then postponed following his resignation. Burnham now faces the same decision.
What Happens To University Funding?
UK universities rely heavily on higher fees from international and EU students to fund research and, in some cases, general teaching costs. Reducing EU fees to domestic rates would remove a significant source of that income.
At this time, the British government has not set out a specific plan for how universities would be compensated if EU student fees are reduced. No transitional funding scheme or alternative source of income has been publicly announced. Whether the fee change goes ahead, and how any shortfall would be managed, remains unresolved ahead of the summit.
So What Now?
Rejoining the EU appears to be off the table in practice. Whatever Burnham’s personal hopes, Starmer’s red lines remain government policy. As for Irish unification, Burnham can say it’s “off the table” all he likes, but he cannot make that legally true. What Burnham can actually shape, right now, is the youth mobility scheme, the one issue on the table where a decision in November will have a direct, immediate effect on young people. For a generation that missed out on Erasmus and free movement after Brexit, the fee question is the clearest chance the UK has to re-open the door for students on both sides.
