London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has proposed a new arrangement between the UK and the European Union, aiming to facilitate freedom of movement, study, and work for young Brits within the EU. The suggestion marks one of the most pro-European stances by a senior Labour politician since Brexit.
Emphasising that he is not calling for the UK to rejoin the EU, Khan envisions establishing a "youth mobility" agreement with EU member states, including Spain and the Canary Islands, or amending post-Brexit employment visa regulations.
The objective is to allow young people from the UK to seamlessly live, study, and work, to contribute to key sectors of the economy in EU countries, mirroring the conditions pre-Brexit.
In December 2023, Khan endorsed a petition for the UK to rejoin the EU's Erasmus programme, initiated by the UK branch of the European Movement. This move comes as a response to challenges faced by universities and colleges in completing applications to the Turing Scheme, which was intended to replace Erasmus.
A recent report by the UK Department for Education, published on January 3rd, revealed difficulties in funding, with only 20,000 beneficiaries compared to the government's target of 35,000, deeming the scheme inadequate.
Despite Mayor Khan's proposal receiving criticism from various UK politicians, including Conservative Party Chairman, Richard Holden, who views it as a strategic move for Khan's mayoral re-election campaign, this is not the first time he has advocated for such measures.
In April 2023, he urged the UK government to ease post-Brexit visa rules, allowing EU citizens to visit London for tourism, work, and study purposes.
While the EU's response to the proposal remains relatively subdued, Germany has already taken steps in a similar direction. The German ambassador in London, Miguel Berger, recently disclosed that Germany is exploring an arrangement to permit people aged 18 to 35 to live and work in the UK for up to two years.
The unfolding developments suggest a dynamic discourse between the UK and the EU regarding the mobility and opportunities for young people in the post-Brexit era.
