EU paves way for youth to travel and work freely

The EU is prepared to make major concessions in negotiations to allow British and European 18- to 30-year-olds to travel and work freely, potentially paving the way for a long-awaited reset with Brussels.

- Lisa O'Carroll

A youth mobility scheme that would allow thousands of young Europeans to come to the UK has been seen as a key European demand in reaching a post-Brexit pact with the UK focused on defence, energy and migration.

It is understood that EU member states could now be willing to limit work visas to as little as 12 months, having previously pushed for several years, with quotas on numbers and restrictions on the sectors EU citizens could work in. They are also open to a "one in, one out" style plan being considered by the home secretary.

EU sources said the scheme would be rebranded the "youth experience" programme in order to eliminate any suggestion that it was reopening immigration routes for EU citizens wanting to live and work in the UK.

Asked about the prospect of a youth mobility scheme yesterday, a Downing Street spokesperson said: "Both sides are discussing a wide range of issues, which is entirely normal for a negotiation."

The EU first proposed a youth mobility scheme that would allow young people to work or study for up to four years in each other's countries in April 2024, but this was rejected out of hand by both Labour and Conservative parties.

After a year of discussion among member states, sources say it is such a priority for key EU member states including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands, that compromises need to be made.

One source said a one-year visa with an option of a further one- or two-year extension could land better politically.