The UK should reconsider its plans for a youth mobility scheme with the EU, as the bloc is pushing hard for this scheme to allow Brits and Europeans to live and work abroad as long as they can financially support themselves.
According to a leaked codex of EU positions seen by Politico, the bloc views the visa scheme as a crucial element of negotiations with London, while the British PM, Keir Starmer, says the UK has no plans for such a policy, Schengen.News reports.
However, even the British PM is being confronted with different positions of his government, with the MPs and regional mayors supporting the mobility scheme while Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is firmly against the scheme. In general, the UK opposes the youth mobility scheme in efforts to maintain tight controls on immigration.
British Government Remains Under Pressure Due to the Youth Mobility Scheme With EU
Some politicians who support the youth mobility scheme include regional mayors like Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan and Ian Roome, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon.
MP Roome argued that the UK already has agreements similar to those of other countries such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
In addition, Stella Creasy, who chairs the Labour Movement for Europe, has shown her support for the scheme, saying this policy is not freedom of movement for Brits and Europeans. Still, it will help to facilitate mobility between countries.
EU Working for the Start of Negotiations With the UK
EU member countries are working for the Commission to start talks with the UK. The new mandate could include provisions for compromises such as a limitation on the number of people allowed to take advantage of the mobility scheme, as well as stringent eligibility criteria or shorter stays.
Since the UK will not budge easily on the idea, the EU is working to make the proposal as friendly as possible for Brits who want to maintain their immigration controls.
According to an EU diplomat, the mobility scheme issue is the most cited demand by capitals at a meeting of member states. On top of the youth mobility scheme, it is expected that the EU will also discuss the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), suggesting several changes to this deal. These matters could be discussed during a visit that the British UK has scheduled to Brussels soon.
Source: https://schengen.news/youth-mobility-scheme-could-become-a-sticking-point-in-uk-eu-relations/
