Post-Brexit youth mobility scheme gets EU green light

The European Union has given the green light to post-Brexit youth visas with the UK, after member states approved talks on how they would work in practice. Campaigners welcomed what they hailed as a massive step forward for young people in the UK”

- KATE DEVLIN WHITEHALL EDITOR

The European Council, which comprises the leaders of EU member countries, has backed opening up detailed discussions with the UK to determine how many visas would be issued and what conditions they would have.

Britons lost the right to live and work in the EU - so-called "freedom of movement" - and vice versa, after the UK left the bloc. But there have long been calls for a scheme for 18-30 years olds that would allow Brits to work on the continent, and young people from EU countries to come here, for a short period of a few years.

Britain already has similar agreements on youth mobility with 13 separate countries, including Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Iceland, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Taiwan.