EU nationals aged 18 to 30 will be permitted to reside and work in the UK for a period of two years. According to reports, Britain is preparing to launch a youth mobility program that would permit young people from EU nations to reside and work in the UK for a maximum of two years as part of Labour leader Keir Starmer’s attempts to mend fences with the EU.
At an EU-UK summit on May 19, the planned plan—which is comparable to current agreements with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and Uruguay—will be unveiled.
Young EU nationals between the ages of 18 and 30 would be allowed to live and work in the UK for a two-year period, with a potential one-year extension, under the proposed reciprocal arrangement. The program would, however, have an annual cap of 70,000 participants, force applicants to pay an NHS premium, and exclude them from receiving benefits. Similar access to EU nations would be extended to young Britons.
Some EU nations, like as Germany, Poland, and Romania, have already opposed the idea, citing concerns about the UK’s “restrictive” policies, especially the healthcare fees. Some nations believe that these levies violate the spirit of reciprocity and are discriminatory, according to The Times.
EU nations may argue for alternative terms to ensure their young residents are not unfairly burdened, even if the UK’s youth mobility scheme with nations like Australia requires applicants to have £2,530 in savings, pay a £298 application fee, and cover an annual £776 NHS premium.
This proposed youth mobility programme will be a major topic of debate at the next summit as the UK looks to rebuild its ties with the EU after Brexit. The future of UK-EU relations and the opportunities accessible to youth in both regions will be influenced by the conclusion of these negotiations.