Politics · United Kingdom · 10 hrs ago
UK-EU youth mobility deal may be delayed by six months
The UK and EU are negotiating a reciprocal scheme for under-30s to work, travel or study in each other’s countries.
The plan, called the Youth Experience Scheme, is part of efforts to reset relations after Brexit.
The UK wants to limit participation to about 50,000 EU citizens a year, while some EU countries want a higher limit of up to 500,000 or no limit.
They also disagree over university tuition and whether young people using the scheme should pay a UK health surcharge of £1,035; a 25% reduction has been suggested.
These differences have left the scheme deadlocked ahead of the 20 November summit in Brussels, where leaders hope to make progress on wider ties.
Diplomats say the deadline for reaching a deal could be delayed by six months to give negotiators more time.
A proposal would leave tuition fees out of the immediate package and commit both sides to find a solution by May 2027, but the EU remains divided on that approach.
The deadline for a UK-EU youth mobility scheme could be delayed by six months, diplomats say.
The delay is being considered to help ensure the success of the UK-EU summit scheduled for 20 November.
The scheme would allow people under 30 from both sides to work, travel or study in the other jurisdiction.
Negotiations remain deadlocked over visa quotas, university tuition fees and the UK health surcharge.
The UK wants an annual cap of about 50,000 participants, while some EU countries want a higher cap or no cap.
- Who
- The UK and the EU are negotiating a reciprocal youth mobility scheme.
- What
- The scheme could be delayed by six months amid disagreements over quotas, tuition fees and health charges.
- When
- The proposed summit is on 20 November; diplomats said the deadline could be deferred by six months.
- Where
- The scheme would cover the UK and EU countries. Diplomats discussed the issues in Brussels.
- Why
- The parties remain divided over the scheme’s terms, and more time may help ensure the summit succeeds.
UK government
Some EU member states
Annual quota
UK government
The UK is seeking a cap of about 50,000 participants a year.
Some EU member states
Some EU countries want a cap of up to 500,000; others want no cap.
Health surcharge
UK government
The UK is insisting that YES visa holders pay the £1,035 NHS surcharge, though a 25% discount has been suggested.
Some EU member states
The sources report a suggested discount but do not give a common EU position on the surcharge.
Tuition fees
UK government
The UK government is under pressure from universities to retain full international fees for EU students.
Some EU member states
Some EU states support taking tuition fees out of the package and negotiating a solution by May 2027; positions within the bloc are divided.
Maroš Šefčovič presented the European Commission’s three proposed agreements in a European Parliament debate in Strasbourg.
EU ambassadors in Brussels were told the UK continued to insist on international tuition fees, quotas and an NHS surcharge.
The UK-EU summit is scheduled to take place.
A proposed joint statement would commit the UK and EU to negotiate a solution on tuition fees by this date.
- UK annual cap proposal
- About 50,000 participants
- Higher cap sought by some EU states
- Up to 500,000 participants
- NHS surcharge
- £1,035, with a 25% discount suggested
- Oxford international fees
- Up to £69,190 a year
- Summit date
- 20 November
- Proposed tuition-fee negotiation deadline
- May 2027
3 sources
Acordul care le-ar permite tinerilor europeni să muncească și să studieze în Marea Britanie ar putea fi...
Youth mobility scheme may be delayed to ensure success of UK-EU summit
Comisia vrea să încheie până la 20 noiembrie negocierile cu Regatul Unit pentru comerțul alimentar, piețele de carbon și mobilitatea tinerilor
What people are saying
A lot of member states were in favour of keeping the trio of issues together and not breaking the agenda up, but there are others that think it is acceptable to decouple them and there is no agreement yet on which approach to take