Keir Starmer’s chief negotiator on Europe, Nick Thomas-Symonds, expressed enthusiasm regarding the potential establishment of an EU youth mobility scheme. This initiative aims to facilitate greater freedom for young people to travel and work across Europe. On Wednesday, Thomas-Symonds, who serves as the Cabinet Office minister overseeing negotiations with the EU, indicated his eagerness to finalize an agreement for this scheme.
His comments represent a noticeable shift from earlier governmental stances, which were more hesitant about entering discussions on youth mobility. During a recent speech, he also highlighted his commitment to achieving a new agricultural export deal by early 2027, as the government shows increasing openness toward closer ties with the EU.
Thomas-Symonds emphasized the opportunities the youth mobility scheme could provide for young British individuals to experience different cultures. He encouraged Members of Parliament to promote these opportunities, emphasizing a collective effort from all political factions.
In pursuit of closer EU relations, Thomas-Symonds has been leading negotiations that began earlier this year, which resulted in proposals for both a youth mobility scheme and an agricultural agreement. He aims to finalize the export agreement in the next 18 months.
British officials plan to negotiate exemptions from certain EU regulations, including those related to genetically modified crops. In return, they may face requests from France to reconsider the UK’s pre-election pledge to ban foie gras imports. Thomas-Symonds acknowledged this would involve seeking specific exceptions but also emphasized the UK’s goal of “dynamic alignment” with EU regulations for future consistency.
While dynamic alignment has historically posed concerns for supporters of Brexit, Thomas-Symonds stated it is a strategic choice in favor of maintaining high standards for the UK’s economic interests. His recent positive remarks regarding youth mobility indicate a growing confidence within Labour about the discourse surrounding EU relations, even amidst challenges related to public sentiment on immigration.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/27/starmers-top-eu-negotiator-hints-at-possible-youth-mobility-scheme