The Prime Minister agreed to significantly reduce tuition fees for European students studying in the United Kingdom as part of a broader effort to secure a high-level UK-EU summit date. Sir Keir Starmer offered to lower the fees from £38,000 to £9,535, aligning them with the rates paid by domestic UK undergraduates, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

The concession was reportedly made during discussions with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, on the sidelines of last month’s G7 summit in Evian-Les-Bains, France. Officials indicated that the EU had insisted European students should not be subject to international fees if they were to continue studying in the UK. Sir Keir also raised the matter separately with António Costa, president of the European Council, prior to announcing the summit date.

The UK government had pushed the EU for months to agree on a date for a summit intended to facilitate progress on several key issues, including a youth mobility scheme and the reduction of trade barriers related to food, drink, and energy. Brussels, however, hesitated over concerns about whether the Prime Minister had the authority to make such concessions. The summit was scheduled for July 22 in Belgium following the talks.

Shortly after the announcement, the event was postponed when Sir Keir revealed his intention to step down as Prime Minister. EU officials reportedly sought the delay amid worries the political arrangement might not hold with a new UK leader. Nevertheless, the EU is expected to maintain its demand that European students pay domestic fees in the UK regardless of whether Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Manchester and current MP for Makerfield, succeeds Sir Keir.

Reports indicate that Brussels views Mr. Burnham as potentially a more flexible negotiator than his predecessor. He has acknowledged that most EU member states view the tuition fee issue as a critical condition for agreeing to any broader reset in UK-EU relations.

The proposed youth mobility scheme aims to enable tens of thousands of British and European students to live, work, and study in each other’s countries, enhancing cross-cultural exchange.

The decision to align fees with domestic rates has drawn concern from UK higher education bodies. The Russell Group, representing some of the country’s top universities, warned that such a move could cost the sector over £500 million annually. Currently, British students pay up to £9,535 per year for a typical undergraduate degree, which is significantly lower than the international fees previously charged to European students.

Officials from both sides emphasize that the summit’s success was contingent on agreements viewed favorably by the EU, reflecting broader political and economic considerations in ongoing UK-EU relations after Brexit.