EU leaders want Prime Minister Keir Starmer to support a plan that allows young people to temporarily live in the UK. They plan to discuss this with him over dinner on Monday.
Sir Keir is hoping to start talks about a UK-EU security agreement at an informal meeting with all 27 EU leaders in Brussels next week, ahead of a formal summit in the spring.
However, EU officials say that for any security deal to happen, the UK must agree to a scheme that lets people aged 18 to 30 from both the UK and EU live and work in each other’s countries for up to four years.
The EU also wants assurances that its fishermen will continue to have access to UK waters. Brussels is refusing to discuss UK proposals unless these demands are met. An EU official told the *Financial Times*: “Everything is now seen as a trade-off.”
Germany’s ambassador to the UK, Miguel Berger, also said that agreeing to the youth mobility scheme is “an important element” of any deal.
The UK government wants to sign a broad security agreement with the EU, influenced by Russia’s war on Ukraine and US President Donald Trump’s calls for Europe to take more responsibility for its own security. The deal would cover defence cooperation, funding, and training, working alongside NATO.
The UK insists it will not return to freedom of movement and says there are no plans for a youth mobility scheme. In Parliament, Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “I won’t give a running commentary. But I can say that we will always act in the UK’s national interest and will not bring back freedom of movement.”
However, the idea is supported by the Labour Movement for Europe, a group of 48 MPs, including Trade Minister Douglas Alexander and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. They have drafted a motion urging local Labour groups to support the policy.
Monday’s dinner at the prestigious Palais d’Egmont will be Sir Keir’s first meeting with all 27 EU leaders. Before he joins them in the evening, they will have private talks and lunch with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
