Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants to promote educational and cultural “exchanges” between the UK and the EU, and has not explicitly ruled out negotiating some form of youth mobility scheme with the bloc.
British Prime Minister Press conference in Berlin President Trump said Wednesday that a “reset” of relations with the European Union would create “closer ties” with member countries on economic, defense and monetary fronts.
Starmer said there were “no plans” for a youth movement between the UK and EU, but did not rule out speculation that a deal could be negotiated in the future.
British government officials said the country wants to strengthen educational and cultural exchanges, including for children on school trips and touring musicians, by cutting red tape.
However, they argued that this fell short of the scale of movements and length of stay commonly agreed in youth mobility plans and proposed by some EU figures.
Last week, Downing Street announced that the UK “Not considered” Plans for the EU-wide youth movement have frustrated campaigners pushing for a return to pre-Brexit freedoms.
In April, ahead of the British general election, the Labour Party cold reaction The European Commission has proposed a deal that would allow British citizens aged between 18 and 30 to work and study in the region for up to four years.
A senior Labour official then said the party considered the youth movement plan “synonymous with freedom of movement”, pointing out that Starmer had firmly ruled out a return to freedom of movement.
British Prime Minister on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to leaving the EU, including re-entering the single market and scrapping the customs union.
Starmer is in Berlin Meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz The two countries hope to conclude a new bilateral treaty between Britain and Germany that will deepen economic and defense ties early next year.
The joint statement that London and Berlin agreed to launch the process this week also refers to “increased people-to-people exchanges” between the two countries.
Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, said: “Mr Starmer appears to be leaving the door open to youth mobility. His language suggests the UK will not bring it to the negotiating table, aware that this is one of the EU’s biggest demands.”
However, Rahman predicted that any attempt to start a debate on such a proposal would be met with resistance from some members of the Cabinet. “The spectre of freedom of movement still looms over some leaders in the Labour Party,” Rahman said.
But some Labour leaders, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan, have welcomed the idea of a UK-EU youth mobility scheme.
Kevin Hollinrake, a Conservative MP and shadow business minister, accused Starmer of “plotting to undo Brexit”.
Starmer will attend the opening ceremony of the Paralympics on Wednesday evening before meeting French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Thursday.
According to British officials, the two leaders are expected to discuss foreign policy, including the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as bilateral issues such as economic relations and cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration.
