Mark Carney says of Erasmus+ buy-in: "We don’t view this as ‘paying for something,’"

At a Canada–European Union summit in Montreal, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is seeking to become the EU’s first associate member and announced agreements on digital trade, critical minerals and extending the Erasmus+ education program to Canada. Joining Erasmus+ would require the federal government to pay a buy-in into the EU budget before Canadian institutions gain full access to its grants; the amount has not been announced. Asked about that expense, Carney described the membership as a shared undertaking rather than a purchase. Canada already participates in some Erasmus+ exchanges through partnerships with European universities, but the change would give Canadian students and staff broader access to the program’s funding and opportunities.