Source: AFP
Britain on Thursday lifted some costly barriers to school trips after Brexit — but only for pupils from France, as campaigners called for all EU countries to benefit.
The reversal follows talks earlier this year on the issue between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron.
French and EU nationals at schools in France crossing the Channel for a language-learning holiday will now only need to carry a simple ID card, as was the case before the UK officially leaves the European Union in 2021.
While third-country nationals attending French schools will still need a passport to enter the UK on a language-learning holiday, London has dropped the need for a £115 ($147) visa.
The British Educational Travel Association, which has seen demand for school trips fall since Brexit, described Thursday’s changes as “a positive step forward” while urging the UK government to extend them across the European Union.
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![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/0753347bd545bd22.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
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BETA is also pushing for a new scheme which would allow groups of EU nationals and residents under the age of 18 to travel to the UK for up to six weeks on study visits.
In France, the director of an organization offering school trips has warmly welcomed the partial lifting of restrictions in the run-up to the new year, arguing it will spark a resurgence in visits.
“These changes are much more than a win,” said Edward Hisbergues of PG Trips, which had complained of falling demand for UK tours due to prohibitive costs.
“The UK is once again giving teachers an image of a welcoming country that loves France,” he told AFP.
Source: AFP