May 19 marks an important milestone when all eyes will be on London as EU and UK leaders gather for the first EU summit — a critical opportunity to begin negotiations for a positive, stronger partnership unburdened by the debates of Brexit past.
The summit will hopefully bring us closer to a new UK-EU security and defence agreement. I am proud of how the UK government has stepped up in its now regular cooperation with European countries on the response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. It is now vital that we move from cooperation to coordination, pooling our strengths to secure the continent’s future.
Parliamentarians, however, also see the summit as a moment to pursue broader cultural and social issues that have the potential to enrich our civil society.
Recent VE Day celebrations were a key reminder that what we share with the rest of Europe runs deeper. A relationship based on our shared values, history and a belief in tolerance, opportunity and prosperity for all. Battersea’s veterans were keen to tell me that now is the time to recommit to this collective vision, a vision they sacrificed so much to achieve.
This view is shared by young people. Following a recent event for young people at Europe House, engaged students made their views clear that a renewed UK-EU relationship is needed, to deepen cultural exchange, language learning and educational opportunities.
The message is clear: we must be more ambitious in creating opportunities for young people.
That’s why, at the last UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, which I co-chaired in Brussels, there was strong cross-party support for a youth mobility scheme. This would enable young people to access education, work, and cultural experiences across borders and underpinned by a shared belief in social ties and connection.
I believe that a youth mobility scheme for 18-30 year olds would hugely enrich their lives, giving young people the chance to travel and experience a new culture, while simultaneously bolstering their prospects.
It’s now time for London and Brussels to take up this mantle. The EU summit should open the doors to a bespoke youth mobility scheme, allowing British and European 18–30-year-olds to travel freely for distinct periods.
This pragmatic policy would mirror the already existing youth mobility schemes we have with 13 non-European countries. As with these established schemes, it would be visa-based, time-limited and subject to a cap on numbers. This wouldn’t enable long-term settlement, making it therefore a far cry from freedom of movement.
In Battersea, many constituents have shared stories of lost professional and academic chances since 2020. One student engineer, for instance, struggled to arrange short-term study in Germany due to visa issues – they even felt they would be better off leaving to work in the EU.
It cannot be sensible to lock some of our brightest from gaining new expertise abroad. Breaking down the barriers to travel, work and study would enable young people to thrive, and our country would reap the economic reward as a result.
But it’s not just Battersea crying out for a youth mobility scheme. In 2024, more than 59% of Brits believed the government should negotiate a youth mobility scheme with the EU.
Nor would the scheme be just for the benefit of the middle classes. For example, a young person could take up a hospitality job in Spain or complete an apprenticeship in Germany. If we get this right, a youth mobility scheme could help put an end to the damaging view that culture and travel are reserved only for the middle classes.
Since being elected, this Labour government has worked tirelessly to create a new relationship with our European neighbours. As we look ahead to crafting a positive shared future in these uncertain times, we must ensure that a youth mobility scheme — for the benefit of all our young people — is part of that vision.
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