• New polling shows that amongst the Conservative voters at the last election who expressed a view, 64% now support a UK-EU Youth Mobility Scheme.

• The Conservative European Forum calls on the Government to urgently secure an agreement on youth mobility with the EU as part of a clear strategy for the future of the UK-EU relationship in a new report.

• Europe APPG Chair Lord Kirkhope says “there is no sensible reason” not to have a scheme with our closest neighbours and urges the Government to engage pragmatically with the EU on ‘emergency brake’ proposals.

The Conservative European Forum has today called on the Government to agree urgently a long anticipated reciprocal youth mobility scheme with the European Union ahead of the upcoming UK-EU summit in the summer, arguing that such an agreement would support young people, help British businesses and form part of a more pragmatic long term strategy to reset the UK-EU relationship.

New polling shows that amongst the Conservative voters at the last election who expressed a view, 64% support a UK-EU youth mobility scheme, with 57% of Leave voters now agreeing with the need for this. 72% of adults in the UK who expressed a view also support a scheme, with over 77% of 18–34 year-olds in favour.

In a new report, ‘Negotiating a UK-EU Youth Mobility Scheme: Context and Benefits’, CEF makes the case for a reciprocal scheme allowing young people to travel, work, study and gain experience for a fixed period. This would complement arrangements the UK already operates successfully with 13 countries around the world.

The report highlights the clear benefits for sectors facing recruitment pressures, including hospitality, tourism, horticulture and agriculture, while also giving young people in the UK greater opportunities to live, work and build professional networks across Europe. Leading experts from business groups, universities and representative bodies have all pointed to youth mobility as a practical and overdue step forward in rebuilding the UK-EU relationship.