EU and UK move toward youth mobility deal for British under-30s

EU officials are working on a political agreement that would prevent restrictions on the types of jobs British citizens under 30 could hold when moving to EU countries under a youth mobility scheme. The deal aims to remove a key sticking point in the Brexit reset negotiations, paving the way for a wider package covering food, drink trade and carbon markets at the November summit. While the EU retains authority over individual visa issuance, the proposed compromise would align member states’ rules with the scheme’s goals.

Talks also cover the scheme’s overall size, with a likely compromise between the UK’s demand for 50,000 visas and the EU’s push for 150,000. In parallel, the EU is considering delaying its demand that the UK lower tuition fees for European students, a contentious issue for cash-strapped British universities. The progress on youth mobility coincides with France and Germany’s willingness to include the UK in the EU’s “Made In Europe” policy, subject to higher tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.