Young people want their freedom of movement back
November 19, 2024
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
Aya Pfeufer explores the EU mobility scheme that would open more doors for young Britons
On 18th April 2024, the European Commission suggested negotiations with the United Kingdom to enable a new mobility rights scheme for young people aged 18 to 30. This initiative aims to restore the ability to move freely, work and study across both regions after Brexit. The departure of the UK from the EU has affected young people’s rights to travel and work freely.
Before Brexit, young people had more freedom and flexibility. Now our ability to work, study and explore potential opportunities across the 27 European member states has been impacted. Maros Sefcovic, the Commission’s vice-president overseeing UK relations, said, “The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union has hit young people in the EU and UK who would like to study, work, and live abroad particularly hard.”
This has broader implications for their career prospects, personal development, and cultural experiences, ultimately narrowing their horizons in an increasingly globalised world.
Many youth in the UK have gone against Brexit, and raise concerns over how this will affect their future. According to the EU, mobility has been harmed between the two areas, since the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
Reinstating these rights has sparked determination among many young people. They want to be able to study and work abroad.
The deal would allow UK and EU citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 to study or work for up to four years. On the other hand, mobility will still be limited to an extent, based on how long you stay in an EU country; the European Commission stated limited-time mobility. In other words, UK citizens will not gain the full benefits, have intra-EU mobility rights or fully access the Schengen zone, although they can still travel for up to 90 days within the EU.
Reinstating these rights has sparked determination among many young people. They want to be able to study and work abroad. The scheme would open doors to new opportunities, personal development, and more. To push for change, youth must continue to advocate, through different means, like lobbying which can be carried out by raising awareness, educating more people on the issue through campaigns and open discussions.
In response to the scheme, the Labour government has recognised that young people need more job opportunities. However, Labour is still against freedom of movement to the EU, perhaps due to ongoing far-right movements that have expressed economic concerns, cultural anxieties and fear of immigration. The political environment has been influenced by such extreme events, like the backlash related to liberal immigration policies leading to the summer riots that broke across the UK.
More young people are advocating for their rights and future so that they can immerse themselves in opportunities abroad. The proposed youth mobility scheme illustrates a significant opportunity to reconnect younger generations with diverse experiences that come from living and working abroad.
You can sign the petition urging the government to negotiate a youth mobility scheme with the EU.
