The European Union has formally urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to agree to a youth mobility scheme with no upper limit on participants, as part of a concerted effort to rebuild ties between London and Brussels.
Key Demands and Proposed Timelines
EU officials are aiming to finalise a pact on youth movement next year, with the intention of implementing it by 2027. This agreement would grant young British and European citizens reciprocal rights to live and work across borders. A central EU demand is the removal of any cap on the number of young adults who could come to the UK. Brussels is also pushing for 'equal treatment' for its students, which includes exemption from international university fees—often double domestic rates—and a waiver of the NHS surcharge.
Currently, the UK operates several capped youth mobility schemes with nations like Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Canada. These allow 18 to 35-year-olds to live and work in Britain for up to two years, provided they have £2,530 in savings and pay the NHS surcharge. This surcharge currently stands at £776 per year, granting access to NHS healthcare in England. Australia has the highest annual visa limit under these schemes at 35,000.
Internal Divisions and Negotiation Stance
The proposal has exposed divisions within the Labour government. Some ministers champion a wide-ranging scheme to stimulate economic growth, while others fear a voter backlash over immigration, as reported by The Times. Despite its firm stance against caps, the EU has reportedly considered an emergency brake clause in case of a sudden surge in arrivals.
One European source told The Times: 'We do not see the need for setting a quota or cap. What is wrong with our young Europeans? We do not have a problem with young Brits. It will not be a free-for-all as there will be conditions as well as the age and time of stay limits.'
A UK Government spokesperson stated: 'We are working together with the EU to create a balanced youth experience scheme which will create new opportunities for young people to live, work, study and travel.' They noted that both sides had agreed last May that any final scheme must be time-limited and capped, highlighting a key point of contention.
Broader Context of UK-EU Relations
Negotiations are ongoing in Brussels, with hopes of a deal early in the new year ahead of a second UK-EU summit in the spring. Europe minister Nick Thomas-Symonds is set to discuss the plans further with the EU's Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Sefcovic, in Brussels on Wednesday.
This push comes as Sir Keir Starmer seeks to redefine the UK's post-Brexit relationship. He has accused the previous Conservative government of failing to secure a good deal through 'rude, aggressive, abusive (and) disrespectful' negotiations. While ruling out rejoining the customs union, Starmer told The Economist's podcast that he is 'looking at multiple ways to bring the UK closer to the EU on trade' and to reduce barriers, particularly for goods.
His deputy, David Lammy, has argued that leaving the EU 'badly damaged our economy', though a Number 10 spokesman later reiterated that the Prime Minister's red lines—including not rejoining the customs union—remain firmly in place.
