German Ambassador highlights the value of youth mobility and tackles immigration concerns
The German Ambassador to the UK has today stressed the economic and social value of a reciprocal Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) to both the UK and EU while disagreeing with those who conflate it with immigration or freedom of movement.
Speaking at an evidence session of the cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission (UKTBC) of MPs and business leaders, Miguel Berger underlined the benefits of implementing such a scheme between the UK and EU and his optimism that it was something that would be achieved.
Asserting that the EU has a mandate to negotiate for a scheme that would give young Brits three years to live and work in the EU and vice versa, Herr Berger pushed back against conflations of Youth Mobility with migration and suggestions it represents a return to freedom of movement.
He said, “I think it is such a positive thing that we work for the possibility of young people having this experience and I always try to push back against the notion that this has anything to do with migration because the young people would come here, stay a certain time and then go home so it has nothing to do with migration into the United Kingdom.
“I always hear this is a kind of freedom of movement through the back door - no it is not because it would be driven by visas.”
Recent polling by Best for Britain shows that a majority (54%) of voters are in favour of a four-year EU-UK YMS with two thirds (66%) backing a two-year version. Less than one-in-five (18%) are opposed. The poll showed that a two-year scheme commands majority support in every constituency in Britain including Nigel Farage’s own seat of Clacton.
The Ambassador’s comments come on the same day that the Prime Minister meets with EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen in advance of the important EU-UK summit in May. Today a joint letter from more than 60 Labour MPs organised by UKTBC Chair, Andrew Lewin MP called for the government to commit to a Youth Mobility scheme when they host EU leaders next month alongside other improvements to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
A reciprocal EU-UK Youth Mobility Scheme was first proposed by the UK Trade and Business Commission in their landmark report published in May 2023.
Former Permanent Secretary for the Department for Exiting the European Union, Philip Rycroft who was also providing evidence to the Commission said,
“Youth mobility has always been a big ask from the EU side. We should be really flattered by that, that all these youngsters from the EU want to come to the UK to study, to work, to visit, to learn the language.
“The government rejecting that, going back a few months using quite hard language about this not being compatible with our ambitions around migration, I thought was a tactical mistake because it meant that if we do a deal on youth mobility, and I hope we do, there will be accusations of a climbdown.”
Andrew Lewin MP, Chair of the UK Trade and Business Commission said,
“The Government committed to a stronger partnership with the EU in our manifesto. We have a mandate for change and a chance to strike a deal to reduce the burdens on business and be a catalyst for economic growth.”
