Ah, Brexit. Love it or hate it, travel for us Brits hasn’t been the same since. And while there’s been an increasingly lengthy list of repercussions of the UK leaving the EU, one of the biggest has been young people losing the chance to travel, study and work in European countries without restrictions.
However, that could all soon change, as the European Commission has proposed bringing back some pre-Brexit freedoms for travellers aged 18 to 30.
The proposal would allow young Brits to work, study, train or volunteer in EU countries for up to four years without restrictions. In return, young EU citizens would get the chance to spend time in the UK with greater freedom.
Maroš Šefčovič of the European Commission said: ‘The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union has hit young people in the EU and the UK who would like to study, work and live abroad particularly hard.
‘Today, we take the first step towards an ambitious but realistic agreement between the EU and the UK that would fix this issue. Our aim is to rebuild human bridges between young Europeans on both sides of the Channel.’
If the European Commission’s proposals get official approval from both the EU and UK, all young Brits would need to travel is a valid travel document, comprehensive sickness insurance and proof of sufficient means of subsistence. However, apparently you could be rejected if you pose a threat to ‘public policy, public security or public health’.
In a statement, the UK Home Office said that its existing youth mobility programmes with countries like Australia and Canada had been ‘successful’ and it remained ‘open to agreeing them with our international partners, including EU member states.’
Useful travel bits with Time Out
There’s some other stuff changing the way we travel in upcoming months. Here’s why you might not need a passport later this year, passport stamps are set to be scrapped and which airports could be ditching the 100ml liquids rule.
Did you see that a Yorkshire Dales edition of Monopoly has been released?
Plus: The UK’s biggest pub chain could soon go bust.
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