Sir Keir Starmer, the new Labour Party leader, is due to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen later today. This debate is happening as momentum builds ahead of a key donors’ summit in London on May 19. Key negotiations are focused on worksharing arrangement for a new temporary youth visa. This program hopes to provide new travel and work experiences for the 18-30 year old youth of the United Kingdom and member countries of the European Union.
The Government’s proposed scheme would afford eligible applicants visas of up to four years in length. People from a handful of countries will encounter different, more stringent requirements. As part of the agreement, they need to demonstrate at least £2,530 in savings. This increased amount will show their financial means during their short residency. More importantly, the neighbors of these nations will be subject to the exclusion of virtually all public benefits while living in the UK.
On top of these financial conditions, there is an annual NHS surcharge that applicants are required to pay. The application fee is adjusted based on the applicant’s residence. Though minimum fees were introduced, students need to pay £776, and workers £1,035, offering a UK PhD means accepting these changes. The introduction of such fees is worrying as it puts the proposed scheme’s accessibility for many people into question.
Miguel Berger, Germany’s ambassador to the UK, was hopeful. He is very optimistic that there is a great potential to see movement on a youth visa agreement. Fischer highlighted the need to develop a “package approach” in the continuing negotiations. This wide-ranging deal has the potential to supercharge cooperation between the UK and EU.
“We have to leave that to the negotiations.” – Miguel Berger
Over 60 Labour MPs have rallied behind the call for ministers to establish a “new and bespoke youth visa scheme for UK and EU citizens aged under 30.” This new advocacy push is a reflection of the growing understanding that we need unique solutions that are tailored. These solutions will address the unique challenges young people encounter when trying to find opportunities internationally.
While Berger acknowledged the need for compromises on both sides, he was adamant that any deal struck wouldn’t be attached to larger immigration deals. He doubled down on requiring young people hoping to participate in the new youth visa scheme to go home at the end of their visa term. This illustrates the temporary nature of the deal.
Now, the European side has reiterated several times that an agreement is absolutely necessary in these last-stage negotiations. Setting up a youth visa scheme would be an opportunity to kickstart conversations on what are otherwise much-needed topics. This consists of a big potential defense deal which could give the UK complete access to a €150 billion (£128 billion) EU-backed loans program.
If history is any guide, the upcoming summit in London should be a new beginning for both sides. They’ll be taking these challenging conversations to the deep end. As these conversations are developed, stakeholder optimism continues. They’re confident that a similarly beneficial deal would forge even stronger links between the UK and EU, and better reflect the interests of younger generations who will be affected the most.