Abta welcomes Rachel Reeves’ youth mobility commitment  

A renewed commitment by chancellor Rachel Reeves to establishing a youth mobility scheme between the UK and the EU has been welcomed by Abta.

 

The ability for young people to live and work in EU countries was greatly complicated after Brexit.

 

However, speaking at the Labour conference in Liverpool yesterday (Monday), Reeves said: "We should not cut young people off from opportunities that my generation took for granted.”

 

She added: "As well as making it easier to trade with Europe, as well as making it easier to travel in Europe, I can tell you today that we are working with the European Union to secure for young people in Britain the maximum economic and cultural opportunities available through an ambitious agreement on youth mobility."

 

The UK had previously agreed to work towards a "youth experience visa" with the EU in May. Several similar deals are already in place with countries such as Japan and New Zealand.

 

But the EU scheme is unlikely to be operational until 2027 at the earliest.

 

Abta public affairs director Luke Petherbridge, said in response: “Abta welcomes the chancellor’s strong support in her speech today at the Labour party conference for a UK-EU youth mobility deal.

 

“Abta has been campaigning for such a deal for the past five years. We look forward to engaging with policymakers on all sides to deliver a mutually beneficial agreement, which has strong support from the public.”

 

He added: “Recent research commissioned by Abta found that 76% of people support a deal with the EU to enable young people to work, live, and study overseas for temporary periods. 

 

“This support comes from all voter types, with even 61% of those who voted to leave the EU in 2016 in favour of a deal on youth mobility.”