UK Rejects EU-Wide Youth Mobility Scheme Proposal

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has declined the European Commission's offer for a youth mobility visa scheme, favoring bilateral agreements with individual EU nations.

The proposed scheme aimed to allow young people aged 18 to 30 from the UK and EU to live, study, or work across the bloc for up to four years.
Sunak emphasized that Brexit ended free movement, and the UK government prefers to negotiate mobility arrangements with specific EU countries.
Labour and the Conservative government have both expressed disinterest in an EU-wide scheme, focusing instead on bilateral deals and other domestic priorities.
Critics argue that the scheme could enhance cultural ties and economic benefits, urging the government to reconsider its stance.
The European Commission criticized the UK's preference for individual deals, which could undermine a unified EU approach to mobility.