EU ambassador gives renewed signal of desire to find agreement on ‘balanced youth experience scheme’

Brussels has given a renewed signal that it wants to find a compromise on a mobility scheme that would allow under-30s freedom to live and work in the UK and EU member states.

The EU’s ambassador to the UK has reiterated the desire to find common ground on a “balanced” and time-limited youth experience scheme to ensure citizens from both jurisdictions “remain at the centre of the EU-UK relationship”.

It comes after The i Paper reported that both sides were expected to clash when negotiations begin on the scheme due to disagreements over the details of the programme, such as the length of stay for each citizen, the overall numbers involved and the cost of any visa and NHS surcharge applied.

But writing exclusively for The i Paper, Pedro Serrano, the EU’s man in London, insisted there was agreement on the headline requests for a youth mobility deal, but with further details yet to be ironed out.

“Our citizens remain at the centre of the EU-UK relationship. We have a mutual interest to deepen people-to-people ties, particularly for the younger generations,” Serrano writes. “We will be working towards a balanced youth experience scheme, covering stays for a limited period of time and through a dedicated visa path.”

It is understood that Brussels has questioned how the UK can have similar youth mobility schemes with around 13 other countries, but not one with its closest neighbour and biggest trading partner.

Downing Street is seeking strict limits on the number of young people allowed to come into the UK, with British officials eager to point out that any agreement would be with 27 different countries.

Sir Keir Starmer is eager not to be seen to be opening up the UK’s borders towards greater immigration, having recently given a speech promising to dramatically bring down net migration numbers.

But it is hoped the EU’s renewed commitment to a time-limited and capped youth mobility scheme should give the Prime Minister the cover needed to sell such a deal.

Polling earlier this month by JL Partners on behalf of the Good Growth Foundation showed that voters do not view a time-limited visa programme with the EU as the same as mass migration.

There remain disagreements over the costs of any visa scheme, however, with the UK refusing to step back from its demand that any new deal should be in line with existing agreements it has with the likes of Australia and Canada, which require more than £1,000 of fees and £2,500 of savings to access the scheme.

A stand-off over NHS health surcharges must also be overcome, with Brussels believing the £776 charge to be too high for what is viewed as a mediocre service.

And despite the anger over the UK’s decision to extend fishing rights in British coastal waters for 12 more years, Serrano insists the new fishing deal will mean “more jobs” for the UK fishing industry, highlighting the improved trading arrangements and that 70 per cent of fish caught by UK vessels is sold to the EU.

“A sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement may raise UK agri-food exports to the EU by 22 per cent,” Serrano writes. “It will increase choices in supermarkets and contribute to lowering prices. It will allow SMEs [small and medium-enterprises] on both sides of the Channel to return to exports. Agreements on fish and energy will provide respective industries with certainty and will encourage investments. New jobs will be created.”

‘Old friends entering an era of new beginnings’

By Pedro Serrano, ambassador of the European Union to the United Kingdom

The summit of 19 May has opened a new chapter in EU–UK relations. This was hailed by Sir Keir Starmer and Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen in London.

The understandings reached build on existing agreements and cover key areas of mutual interest for the European Union and the United Kingdom. This includes security and defence, people-to-people ties, prosperity, co-operation in justice and home affairs and irregular migration.

Such an ambitious agenda will need to be developed in the coming months and transformed into concrete agreements. It responds to the most pressing interests of both UK and EU citizens. The implementation will have a positive impact on their daily lives and will allow business to trade more efficiently, lifting existing hurdles. It will increase the security of our citizens and will enhance the efforts of the United Kingdom and the European Union to address pressing defence challenges in Europe and beyond.

We are entering a new era, a strategic partnership between the EU and its essential ally, the United Kingdom. We can do this because we share interests and values. Because we share a continent. Because we are defending Ukraine together and want to bring peace and security back to Europe. Because we want to protect our planet against climate change. Because the world will benefit from a stronger Europe that supports values-based multilateralism and international solidarity.

Our economies are joined at the hip. Forty-six per cent of UK trade in goods and services is with the EU. In the case of agri-food it is 60 per cent of the trade. Seventy per cent of fish caught by UK vessels is sold in the European Union. The development of the enormous potential of the UK’s renewable energy will benefit from unimpeded access to the vast EU market. Our citizens will gain in energy security and pay lower prices. An SPS agreement may raise UK agri-food exports to the EU by 22 per cent. It will increase choices in supermarkets and contribute to lowering prices. It will allow SMEs on both sides of the Channel to return to exports. Agreements on fish and energy will provide respective industries with certainty and will encourage investments. New jobs will be created.

European defence is the responsibility of Europeans. Support for Ukraine and building credible deterrence requires strong investment in the sector. The security and defence partnership agreed on Monday opens up possibilities for stronger co-operation in developing defence capabilities. It will increase the interoperability of our forces. It will support Nato and the transatlantic alliance. It will lower prices. It will create jobs. The European Union has just agreed a new financial instrument, SAFE (Security Action for Europe), of up to €150bn. This represents a major contribution to common efforts.

Criminality knows no borders. The European Union and the United Kingdom will also work closer together in fighting organised crime, including that responsible for irregular migration. Last Monday’s agreements will lead to enhanced data sharing and co-operation between our respective justice and police agencies. Addressing irregular migration requires also greater engagement with countries of origin and transit.  Another area where we will work together more effectively.

Our citizens remain at the centre of the EU-UK relationship. We have a mutual interest to deepen people-to-people ties, particularly for the younger generations. We will be working towards a balanced youth experience scheme, covering stays for a limited period of time and through a dedicated visa path. Similarly, new opportunities may be open with the association of the United Kingdom to the EU’s Erasmus+ programme. This is open for school, university and vocational training students and teachers. Learning about each other’s cultures and building friendships in the crucial years of youth will further cement our relationship, our feeling of belonging to a common European culture.

Leaders have agreed to meet at summit level every year to oversee implementation and to drive progress on a renewed agenda for our cooperation. Regular meetings every six months will also be held by the Foreign Secretary David Lammy and High Representative Kaja Kallas. Multiple meetings at official levels will be supporting and feeding into these efforts.

We are old friends at a new beginning.