Pressure on the British government to accept free movement of young people within the EU

LondonTo persist in error is to err doubly. And the United Kingdom realizes this. that Brexit was a mistakeThe problem is that turning back is impossible. But there are those who want to patch things up. Thus, a total of 60 Labour Party MPs urged the British government this Thursday to take advantage of the diplomatic boost that Keir Starmer's new government has given to relations with the European Union to establish a mobility agreement that will allow young people aged 18 to 30 to travel and work temporarily between the United Kingdom and the 27 states.

In a letter sent to Downing Street, the MPs—from constituencies that voted both in favor of Brexit and others that voted against it—demand that Starmer be "ambitious" and take the opportunity to "reestablish ties" with Brussels. Although in a very small voice, Starmer had already pointed out which could be open to that experience.

France, Germany, Italy and also Spain are very interested. The letter has been made public coinciding with the trip to London of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to meet with the premier and to participate in a two-day international conference on energy security.

Beyond this, both leaders are also preparing for the key summit on May 19, which aims to redefine post-Brexit relations between London and Brussels. This meeting is expected to make progress in three key areas: a defense pact, a new fishing quota system, and the youth mobility agreement, which Brussels does not want to give up. While it was banking on three or four years, it could accept only two.

The Labour MPs who signed the letter—among them leading figures from the party's moderate wing—consider a mobility pact to be "a strategic priority" that could have clear economic and cultural benefits. They argue that it is not about restoring pre-Brexit freedom of movement, but rather establishing a "reciprocal and controlled" visa scheme, similar to those the United Kingdom already has with countries such as Australia, Canada, South Korea, and Japan.

British Treasury Secretary Rachel Reeves also welcomes the agreement, according to Whitehall sources. Reeves believes such an initiative could help boost economic growth, especially in sectors with a shortage of young, skilled labor. However, economists see little concrete benefit for GDP. However, the sector that could benefit greatly could be the university sector.

Until now, the British government had rejected the Brussels proposal—first put forward last year—that provided for youth mobility for a period of three or four years. However, this position has reportedly begun to change in recent weeks, particularly following pressure from the aforementioned countries to include this scheme in the global package of agreements to be negotiated next month.

According to the British Future think tank, which specializes in public attitudes toward immigration and identity, public support for such a system is high and widespread: not only does it appeal to pro-European voters, but also to many who voted for Brexit, as long as the system is balanced.

"Strategic anomaly"

The United Kingdom currently has more than 80,000 places annually for young people from various countries under similar programs, but more than half remain unfilled. The contrast with the lack of an equivalent agreement with the EU, the country's largest and closest trading partner, is, according to the letter's signatories, "a strategic anomaly."

This Thursday, shortly after the letter was made public, the official Downing Street spokesperson did not rule out the possibility of such an agreement with the EU, despite warning that no public comments would be made on the ongoing negotiations. Sources close to Starmer acknowledge that any progress in this area must be explained very carefully to avoid being perceived as a reversal of the decision to leave the EU. This is even more so with the local elections in England just a week away and Reform UK, of the Brexiteer and xenophobic Nigel Farage, could take many votes from both the Conservatives and Labour.

The strategy, according to these sources, will be to present the initiative as a pragmatic step toward "reconnection" in specific areas of mutual interest, such as defense, fisheries, and youth mobility. Labour continues to balance trying to make it appear that it is undoing the Brexit mess without making it seem as though it is only partially undoing it, although the evidence of the social, economic, cultural, and even health damage caused by the divorce from the EU is, after five years, more than evident.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed great reluctance to consider the youth mobility scheme just a few months ago, at the Labour party conference. But internal sources within the party indicate that the debate is evolving, and that the current international context—marked by geopolitical instability and the need for strong alliances—requires the United Kingdom to act with a new mindset. From that perspective, Brussels is a very reliable partner. At least for now.