The EU is likely to reject a UK compromise for a capped under-30s migration scheme that is being drawn up in Whitehall under the Brexit reset, sources have indicated.
The bloc is expected to push for a wider youth mobility deal rather than a quota scheme, The i Paper understands.
British proposals to bridge the gap to the EU’s demands for easier under-30s migration include subjecting any deal to a cap on how many Europeans can come to the UK and vice versa, a time limit of two years and tough rules on accessing the NHS and benefits.
It is significantly narrower than Brussels’ original proposal for all 18- to 30-year-olds to be allowed to travel between the UK and EU visa-free for up to four years.
The EU has subsequently made clear that it is willing to make concessions on the time limit under-30s will be allowed to move for under the scheme, as well as rebranding it a “youth experience scheme”.
The UK has now begun drawing up potential “landing zones” for a deal following Cabinet tensions in which some ministers have argued that a youth mobility scheme is vital to unlocking wider deals on trade in Sir Keir Starmer’s Brexit reset.
In order to make any scheme compatible with the Government’s aim of reducing net migration and get around any objections from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, officials have been looking to subject it to a cap, as reported by The i Paper earlier this month.
The Times reported that proposals are being drawn up for a quota of around 70,000 EU nationals to come to the UK and vice versa, lower as a proportion of the population than Australia’s scheme with Britain.
The plan would also make EU nationals subject to international tuition fees and the NHS surcharge for immigrants, and would bar them from claiming benefits.
Negotiations with Brussels would likely see the EU contest the cap and health surcharge fee.
A European diplomatic source said the mooted UK compromise was a “helpful starting point for negotiations but, of course, not the result we’d like to see in the end”.
The i Paper understands that the British proposal is still in the early stages of development and has not yet been agreed across the Cabinet.
Whitehall insiders also do not expect there will be an agreement soon, and stress that the 19 May UK-EU summit may signal future talks about co-operation on youth exchanges rather than be the point at which a deal is struck.
Brexiteers meanwhile criticised suggestions that the UK was also ready to make concessions on aligning with EU rules on food, plant and animal welfare in order to get an agreement to ease cross-border trade in those products, and on harmonising carbon emissions trading, while also accepting European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings.
Conservative former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost said: “We knew it was coming, but now seemingly confirmed: Britain will return to alignment with EU food standards and climate change rules and accept ECJ jurisdiction.
“Shame on you Keir Starmer and [EU relations minister] Nick Thomas-Symonds for selling out this country’s self-government to a foreign court.”
A Government spokeswoman said: “We do not have plans for a youth mobility agreement.
“We are committed to resetting the relationship with the EU to improve the British people’s security, safety and prosperity.
“We will of course listen to sensible proposals. But we have been clear there will be no return to freedom of movement, the customs union or the single market.”
Comments
Leave a Comment