Let under-30s live and work in EU, urges ex-negotiator

The EU’s former chief negotiator has piled pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to strike a deal with Brussels that would allow young people to live and work in Europe as part of his post-Brexit reset.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

In a policy brief setting out the potential future EU-UK relationship, Ignacio Garcia Bercero called on the prime minister to strike an agreement on youth mobility and cultural facilitation as part of a series of deals with Brussels to complement the existing trade and cooperation agreement (TCA), which currently governs trade with the bloc.

Sir Keir has so far ruled out agreeing to such a scheme, which would let under-30s live, study and work across the bloc for a period, despite it being one of the EU’s top priorities in renewed talks.

Stella Creasy, chair of the Labour Movement for Europe, told The Independent that a deal on youth mobility is in the interests of British workers, students, apprentices and businesses. She noted existing deals with countries including Japan, Uruguay, Australia and New Zealand, which allow Britons to live, study and work there for up to two years. “It makes sense to do one with our neighbours to open up opportunities for our young people,” she added.