Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Accepted
Develop ambitious UK-EU visa-based youth mobility scheme for cultural and educational exchange.
Recommendation
The UK and the EU should consider the development of an ambitious, visa- based youth mobility scheme with a limited number of participants. This initiative would allow young people to spend up to 12 months in the UK or EU for cultural and educational exchange, facilitating language acquisition, fostering a deeper understanding of shared European history and heritage, and enabling work and apprenticeship opportunities. Such an initiative would contribute to the long-term strengthening of trust and cooperation, which are essential foundations for international trade relations and mutual security. (Recommendation, Paragraph 94)
Government Response Summary
The government agreed with the EU to work towards establishing a balanced, time-limited, and capped youth experience scheme, in line with existing UK schemes, to provide cultural and educational exchange opportunities. The exact parameters will be subject to negotiation.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
At the Summit, the UK and EU agreed to work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme. Any scheme will be time-limited and capped, and the Government has been clear that it should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes with countries like Australia and New Zealand. Under a youth experience scheme, young Brits will be given the opportunity to travel, experience other cultures, and learn languages, as well as work and study abroad, providing a valuable form of cultural exchange and enhancing UK soft power. The exact parameters will be subject to negotiation, but any scheme will need to be in the UK’s national interest.