The European Commission argues it was Europe’s students and young graduates who were most affected by Brexit’s mobility restrictions. The UK has reportedly responded cooly to the proposal.

The European Union is trying to improve mobility between its 27 member-states and the UK, particularly for people between the ages of 18 and 30. But whether such a proposal would be welcomed by London remains to be seen.

The EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, is trying to open bloc-wide talks with the UK on allowing youth from EU countries to study or work and live in Britain for up to four years, with the same arrangement for British youth.

The proposal would largely revert youth mobility to pre-Brexit times, when members of the then-28-member EU, including Britain, were allowed to work and study without visa requirements. The Commission’s new plan would involve a visa, but one whose fees would not be “excessive.”

  • mindlight@lemm.ee
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    7 months ago

    The UK already has its own Youth Mobility scheme, where it had already struck deals with 13 countries.

    If I’m correct, the countries are:

    • Australia
    • Canada
    • New Zealand
    • South Korea
    • Andorra
    • Iceland
    • Japan
    • Monaco
    • San Marino
    • Uruguay
    • Hong Kong
    • Taiwan
    • India

    If this is what the UK leadership see as the better choice for British citizens, then it’s up to the citizens of Great Britain to do something about it in the next election.

    • SomeoneElse@lemmy.ca
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      7 months ago

      I get the sentiment but you’re glossing over two important things; 48.11% of people voted to remain and there hasn’t been a second referendum.

      Half the country wanted to remain, the other half are racists and/or idiots that believed the outright lies peddled by the leave campaign. Latest polls suggest 60% would vote to remain today but we’re not being offered the chance to vote on that. Voting labour in general elections doesn’t mean we get to rejoin the EU.

      • mindlight@lemm.ee
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        7 months ago

        Voting isn’t the only way to get things to change. Politics doesn’t start at the Parliament. It starts with you actually putting in time and effort making sure that local changes happens.

        If your engagement doesn’t stretch further than a like on Facebook you’re actually getting what you want…

    • brewery@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      Surely, they are not mutually exclusive and some form of this scheme has been in place for some countries (albeit mainly white commonwealth countries) for many years, even when the UK was in the EU.

      Holy shit though, I just looked up the UK’s scheme and you have to pay almost a grand in fees (mostly NHS surcharge) and have over £2,500 in savings. I don’t want rich a-holes coming over for an extended holiday instead of normal people from more different cultures. Let’s vote for better and fairer immigration polices

      • mindlight@lemm.ee
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        7 months ago

        No one has said it’s the same. The Brits are however saying they’re happy with the existing agreements.