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In recent days, both the UK’s ruling Conservative party and the opposition Labour party have rebuffed an EU offer to open talks on an bloc-wide “youth mobility scheme”. The rejection comes despite successive Tory governments trying to negotiate bilateral agreements with several big EU countries, while Labour has promised to deepen relations with Europe if it wins the general election expected this year.
A YMS deal to make it easier for young people to work and travel abroad has frequently been touted as an easy step towards closer relations with the EU after Brexit. Here the Financial Times examines why such an offer is likely to be more complicated than it first appears. What is a youth mobility scheme? Schemes vary from country to country but typically provide people aged 18-35 with easily obtainable visas to live and work in a country for two or three years. The UK has a youth mobility deal with more than 10 countries. Conditions differ between states but applicants can apply for a £298 visa lasting up to two years — providing they have savings of £2,530. They must also pay a £776 “surcharge” fee to be eligible to use the NHS. Successful applicants can study, work and even set up a micro-business.
But the scheme offers no right to residency or to bring over family members. Some countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, get unlimited places. Others, like Japan or Taiwan, face a cap, with applicants entering a ballot to win a chance to apply for a visa. EU countries have similar schemes with other non-EU countries, which they negotiate bilaterally. Why did the EU offer one to the UK? Most EU countries want to widen access to the UK for their young people, which was curtailed by Brexit....
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