The European Commission has proposed a youth mobility agreement with the United Kingdom to allow young people to freely move, work, and study in both regions after Brexit. The UK’s departure from the EU four years ago has impacted mobility between the two areas, particularly affecting opportunities for young people to experience life on the other side of the Channel.
Under the proposed agreement, EU and UK citizens between 18 and 30 years old would be eligible to stay up to four years in the destination country. This would also ensure equal treatment of EU and UK students in terms of university tuition fees, addressing the current disparity where EU students have to pay international fees to study in the UK.
The Commission’s recommendation will now be discussed by EU member countries before negotiations with the UK can begin. The British government has expressed openness to such agreements, highlighting their existing Youth Mobility Scheme with other countries like Australia and New Zealand.
However, the Commission believes the UK’s current scheme is less ambitious than the proposed agreement, emphasizing the importance of offering equal opportunities for young people from both regions. The potential agreement aims to foster cultural exchanges and provide valuable opportunities for young individuals to broaden their horizons and experiences.