The United Kingdom is considering agreeing to the European Union’s demands for a youth mobility program as part of broader negotiations aimed at strengthening cooperation in trade and defense.
According to Bloomberg, citing sources, London is discussing the possibility of launching an exchange program for young people while seeking to avoid an increase in net migration. The EU previously proposed an agreement allowing EU and UK citizens aged 18 to 30 to stay in the destination country for up to four years. Although Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously stated that his government had no plans to introduce such a program, the British side is now exploring potential compromises.
This move is driven by Starmer’s cabinet’s desire to advance negotiations with the EU on updating bilateral relations, including trade and defense—one of the Labour Party’s key election promises in 2024. London expects detailed talks with Brussels to begin after a bilateral summit scheduled for April 2025.
Earlier, media reports revealed that in December 2024, the British Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Sue Gray, secretly visited Brussels as part of efforts to restore relations with the EU. Additionally, the UK government is considering appointing a special negotiator for talks with the European Union.
