Post-Brexit youth mobility scheme with EU on the desk beneath a distinct title | EUROtoday

A youth mobility scheme with the EU is on the desk, however beneath a distinct title, The Independent understands, as MPs try to safe authorities backing for the settlement.

A listing of suggestions produced by the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly – a delegation of members from the UK and EU parliaments geared toward strengthening relations with the bloc – has urged the federal government to determine a “youth opportunity scheme”.

It is known the scheme would function equally to proposals for a “youth mobility scheme”, which had change into a significant sticking level between the UK and EU.

It would enable 18- to 35-year-olds, together with these doing apprenticeships, to maneuver and work freely between international locations for as much as two years.

Britain already has the same settlement with Australia and 12 different international locations, together with New Zealand, South Korea, Iceland, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

There is widespread assist among the many British public for such an settlement with the EU, with a YouGov survey of virtually 15,000 individuals indicating that two-thirds (66 per cent) of individuals backed the scheme, in comparison with only one in 5 (18 per cent) who’re opposed.

In Nigel Farage’s Clacton-on-Sea constituency, which voted overwhelmingly in favour of leaving the EU in 2016, greater than twice as many individuals had been in favour (57 per cent) than in opposition to (25 per cent) the thought of a mobility scheme.

EU officers see such a scheme as a key facet of nearer ties with Britain, however to date, the UK authorities has publicly opposed it.

There is now hope amongst MPs on the parliamentary delegation that the change in language will assist to get the settlement over the road, as it’s understood {that a} key stumbling bloc for ministers was the time period “mobility” – amid fears critics would use it as proof Labour is restoring freedom of motion.

Supporters of the settlement insist that freedom of motion is just not on the desk, because the scheme would have clear limits – together with on the size of time people can keep and their age.

Asked in regards to the advice for a “youth opportunity scheme”, a authorities spokesperson stated there could be “no return to freedom of movement”, however stated ministers would “look at the range of proposals made in the report”.

Peter Ricketts, a retired British senior diplomat and a crossbench peer on the delegation, instructed The Independent: “That word mobility seems to be the stumbling block because it conjures up ideas of free movement – even though it would not be free movement”.

“A youth opportunity scheme is more acceptable on the UK government side.

“And as far as the parliamentarian sides are concerned, they’re less worried about the words and more worried about giving young people opportunities”, Lord Ricketts added.

The Liberal Democrats, who’ve lengthy been pushing for such an settlement, noticed the most recent developments as a victory. The social gathering’s Europe spokesperson James MacCleary instructed The Independent: “Whatever the scheme is called – ‘youth mobility’, ‘youth exchange’ or something else entirely – it’s essential that the UK delivers for young people who deserve the chance to work and live in Europe. It’s mad it’s taken this long to commit to extending a scheme that we already have with Australia and Japan to our European friends.

“I hope to see firm plans put forward before the UK-EU summit in May.”

Meanwhile, Dr Mike Galsworthy, chair of the pro-EU European Movement, argued such a scheme is “lengthy overdue”, insisting it can win the federal government “new support and momentum”.

He stated he “cannot fathom” why it has to date taken so lengthy for the federal government to get behind it.

A authorities spokesperson stated: “We don’t have plans for a youth mobility settlement. We are dedicated to resetting the connection with the EU to enhance the British individuals’s safety, security and prosperity.

“Our starting point will always be to act in Britain’s national interest, and we will look at the range of proposals made in the report. But we have been clear there will be no return to freedom of movement, the customs union or the single market.”