Brexit: EU taking steps to protect exchange students

By Serife Cetin

BRUSSELS

The European Union is taking steps to protect university students involved in the Erasmus exchange program in case of the U.K.'s withdrawal from the European Union without a deal.

EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans announced proposals in Commissioners' weekly meeting in Brussels to ensure the university students complete their education "without interruption" in case of Britain's no-deal exit from the bloc.

As a part of program, a total of 14,000 EU students are currently studying in Britain, while 7,000 U.K. students are studying in the 27 EU member states.

British voters decided to leave the EU after the more than 40-year membership in a 2016 referendum.

The U.K. is set to leave the EU on March 29, less than two months away.

Erasmus is a European Union student exchange program founded in 1987.