EU Gives Green Light to Post-Brexit Youth Visas with the UK

Strategic Insights -

The European Council has given the go-ahead for talks to begin on a post-Brexit youth visa scheme, allowing young Brits to live and work in the EU for a short period. This move has been welcomed by campaigners, who see it as a "massive step forward" for young people in the UK. The UK had previously lost the right to live and work in the EU and vice versa after leaving the bloc. However, the idea of a youth visa deal with the EU has been controversial, with some critics arguing it would be a return to pre-Brexit style freedom of movement.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Council has approved talks to begin on a post-Brexit youth visa scheme with the UK.
  • The scheme would allow young Brits to live and work in the EU for a short period, typically 2 years.
  • The scheme would mirror existing agreements between the UK and 13 separate countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
  • Young Brits who come to the UK as part of the scheme would not be able to access benefits or bring family members with them.
  • The scheme would require young Brits to pay an immigration health surcharge to use the NHS.
  • Campaigners have welcomed the move, calling it a "massive step forward" for young people in the UK.
  • Alfred Quantrill, from the Young European Movement UK, stated that the scheme would give young Brits the same chances enjoyed by their peers across the continent.
  • The Youth Experience Scheme aims to provide opportunities for young Brits to work, study, and participate in apprenticeships, internships, and leisure activities in the EU.

Statistics:

  • 13 countries have existing youth mobility agreements with the UK, including Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
  • 9 years on from the Brexit referendum, a recent YouGov poll showed that most Britons want to see the UK return to the EU.
  • 18-30 years olds would be eligible for the youth visa scheme, with some schemes allowing 18-35 years olds to participate.
  • Young Brits would be required to pay an immigration health surcharge to use the NHS as part of the scheme.
  • The scheme would allow for up to 2 years of living and working in the EU.

Sources:

  • "EU deciding to formally start talks on a Youth Experience Scheme is a massive step forward for young people in the UK." - Alfred Quantrill, Young European Movement UK, as reported by The European Union.
  • "Campaigners have hailed the move as a 'massive step forward' for young people in the UK." - The European Union.
  • "The Youth Experience Scheme is Starmer's chance to fix this failure." - Alfred Quantrill, Young European Movement UK, as reported by The European Union.
  • "A YouGov poll showed that nearly nine years on from the narrow Brexit referendum result, most Britons want to see the UK return to the EU." - The European Union.
  • "Britons lost the right to live and work in the UK, so-called 'freedom of movement', and vice versa, after the UK left the bloc." - The European Union.
  • "Most of these [youth mobility schemes] are open to 18 to 30-year-olds or 18 to 35-year-olds, depending on where they are from, and allow them to live and work in the UK for up to two years." - The European Union.